The High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission (HRVP), Josep Borrell, is expected on January 5 and 6 in Morocco for a working visit. This is his first visit to Morocco in his capacity as HRVP and this trip is of great importance for both Europe and Morocco, which have been cultivating an exemplary partnership for several years. Lightings.
Before his trip to Morocco where Josep Borrell will meet the head of government, Aziz Akhannouch, as well as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Bourita, no less than 6 members of the College of Commissioners visited Morocco in 2022, including the President of the European Commission, Ursula Von der Layen, which reflects the particular attachment of the EU to nurture and maintain its partnership with Morocco on several levels.
The credibility and reliability of Morocco, its expertise and its know-how are qualities sought after and appreciated by the EU, and are no longer to be presented. These qualities have made it easy to set up operations and initiatives of all kinds in the Mediterranean and African region to serve the interests of the communities.
The European Union and Morocco both have a clear and common vision regarding their strategic and multidimensional partnership and share a common desire to strengthen and further expand the relationship to new horizons and strategic areas, in a context marked by many challenges and that is what Josep Borrell will come to do during these two days.
In addition to reaffirming the fundamental nature of the Strategic Partnership between the EU and Morocco, this visit by Josep Borrell will also revolve around discussions with Nasser Bourita on bilateral relations, the prospects for their development as well as on regional and international issues of interest. commmon.
According to a close source, the discussions will revolve around issues of interest in Africa, like the Sahel and the Maghreb, the situation in the Middle East and the Mediterranean.
These prospects for the development of Morocco-EU relations can only be positive in view of Morocco’s centrality in regional security and stability issues by being a reference in the field of peace in Africa and joint achievements in recent years. years.
The discussions that will make it possible to lay the groundwork for the 15th Session of the Morocco-EU Association Council can count on the success of the partnership which has become an example of the European Union’s Neighborhood Policy.
Several joint initiatives have been crowned with success such as Green Partnership, the first of its kind concluded by the EU with a country in its southern neighbourhood, security and judicial cooperation (in particular with European agencies such as Frontex, Europol and Eurojust).
Not to mention a high-level dialogue on migration and an operational partnership to combat migrant smuggling launched in July 2022. This cooperation was also marked by the Morocco-EU co-presidency of the GCTF.
Morocco and the EU have also launched trilateral cooperation projects with African and Mediterranean countries in areas of interest such as water, research and training such as Link Up Africa whose objective is to facilitate the access of young people to training and employment in Africa.
The kingdom is an essential contributor to the activities of the Union for the Mediterranean and at the level of the EU-AU Partnership in the development and stability of the Euro-Mediterranean and Euro-African regions.
Both partners can welcome many agreements reached in the fields of trade, fishing, agriculture, or industrial and look to a digital partnership. The EU has also granted Morocco a financial envelope of 1.6 billion euros in addition to the new funding expected, under the 2021-2027 programming framework.
It should be noted that the Economic and Investment Plan of the New Agenda for the Mediterranean is in an advanced stage with 6 projects focusing on Higher Education, research and innovation, the development of resilient, sustainable and inclusive economies. digital transformation, energy transition and security, sustainable food systems, agriculture and sustainable development.