Latest news with #AutonomyPlan
Morocco World
3 days ago
- Business
- Morocco World
Trade and Investment: UK Committed To Strengthen Ties with Morocco
Rabat – The UK is determined to reinforce trade and investment ties with Morocco, stressing the importance of the North African country as a vital trade and investment partner. Michael Shanks, the UK Under Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, conveyed his country's reaffirmation on Thursday at the House of Commons– the lower house of the UK Parliament. Describing Morocco as a key partner, Shanks recalled Morocco's assets in the areas of clean energy, decarbonization, and the fight against climate change. For Shanks, the UK sees Morocco as an 'attractive and innovative destination for investment, adding that UK companies are seeking to increase their investments in the North African country He also recalled the two countries' agreement to boost their strategic partnership during the visit by UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy to Morocco earlier this month. Notably, the UK endorsed Morocco's Autonomy Plan as the most serious and credible political solution to end the dispute during Lammy's visit to Rabat. The UK's government affirmed that it shares Morocco's view on the urgent need for a resolution to the dispute in the interest of all parties, noting that the time has come to find a solution and move forward on the issue. The announcement comes amid an ongoing momentum marked by an international consensus supporting Morocco's position over Western Sahara. Over 113 countries have expressed explicit and public support for Morocco's autonomy initiative as a serious and credible basis to end the dispute. The UK's traditional position initially focused on supporting the UN-led political process as a basis to end the dispute. Beyond its position on the Sahara, the UK is seeking to strengthen relations with Morocco at all levels, particularly trade. Trade between the two countries is constantly growing. The total trade in goods and services between the two countries reached £ 4.2 billion in the four quarters to the end of Q4 of 2024. This shows an increase of 15.4%. Morocco was also the UK's 51st largest trading partner in the four quarters to the end of Q4 2024. This accounted for 0.2% of total UK trade. Tags: Morocco UK tradeUK Morocco tiesWestern sahara UK
Morocco World
17-06-2025
- Politics
- Morocco World
King Mohammed VI May Visit France in Late 2025 or Early 2026
Doha – King Mohammed VI may make a long-awaited state visit to France in late 2025 or early 2026, according to a Moroccan diplomatic source. The visit, which has been postponed several times, would mark a new chapter in the strengthening of relations between the two countries. A series of preparatory meetings have been scheduled ahead of the official state visit, which the King will make at the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron, a source told AFP. One of the meetings will reportedly gather the Franco-Moroccan High Joint Commission, co-chaired by the heads of government, and is scheduled for the fall of 2025. Other visits and meetings will also be held to assess the progress of bilateral issues. Key among these is a meeting of the 'joint migration group' on June 25 in Paris and a visit by Moroccan Interior Minister Abdelouafi Laftit on July 7. In April, during a visit to Rabat, French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau announced an agreement to 'improve cooperation on readmissions', including the establishment of a 'joint group' tasked with 'investigating whether the nationality is Moroccan or not' for a number of irregular migrants. The upcoming royal visit comes after Macron, during his three-day trip to Rabat in October 2024, strongly supported the 2007 Autonomy Plan over the Western Sahara, endorsing Moroccan sovereignty over its southern provinces. In a July letter to the King, the French president stated that the Moroccan plan 'now constitutes the only basis for reaching a just, lasting and negotiated political solution in accordance with United Nations Security Council resolutions' – a position that the European country has reaffirmed since. During Macron's visit, he officially invited King Mohammed VI to make a state visit to France – an invitation the sovereign accepted with the exact date to be agreed through diplomatic channels. Now, according to reports, those dates are materializing. The two also leaders discussed giving a decisive boost to the excellent multidimensional relations between Morocco and France, to take into account the ambitions of both countries and face international developments and challenges together. They addressed regional and international issues, agreeing to work together to strengthen Euro-Mediterranean, African and Atlantic cooperation for prosperity and sustainable human development. The leaders additionally stressed the importance of deeply renewing the partnership between the two shores of the Mediterranean to build a more stable, sustainable, and prosperous future for the entire region. Tags: Emmanuel MacronKing Mohammed VIMorocco France Relations
Morocco World
17-06-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
UK MPs to Discuss British-Moroccan Ties After Newfound Position on Western Sahara
Doha – The British Parliament is set to discuss the UK's burgeoning relations with Morocco in a much-anticipated debate at Westminster Hall on Wednesday, June 18. The session comes just two weeks after London threw its weight behind Morocco's Autonomy Plan for the Western Sahara, representing a decisive breakthrough in the Moroccan efforts to bring closure to the artificially prolonged territorial dispute, sustained for decades by external manipulation and separatist narratives. Led by MP Andrew Murrison, the parliamentary debate follows British Foreign Secretary David Lammy's high-profile visit to Rabat on June 1. During the trip, Lammy delivered a resounding endorsement of Morocco's 2007 autonomy proposal, hailing it as the 'most credible, realistic and pragmatic basis' for settling the Sahara conflict once and for all. Lammy's backing, announced during the 5th session of the UK-Morocco Strategic Dialogue, signaled a major shift in British policy. Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita welcomed the move as an 'important development,' noting the UK's influential status as a permanent member of the UN Security Council and its role in the 'Friends of the Sahara' group. The UK's stance aligns with the growing international consensus in support of Morocco's autonomy initiative. In recent years, global powers such as the United States, France, and Spain have all viewed the Moroccan proposal as the only or the most viable path to a lasting resolution. Rabat's plan would grant the Sahara region substantial autonomy while remaining under Moroccan sovereignty. In addition to the autonomy endorsement, Lammy's visit saw the inking of several landmark agreements aimed at bolstering bilateral cooperation. Key among them were infrastructure and trade deals related to Morocco's role as co-host of the 2030 FIFA World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal. The UK has pledged substantial investments to support Moroccan projects in the lead-up to the global tournament. The strategic agreements also included an expansion of the UK Export Finance's country limit for Morocco to £4 billion. This will enable greater British private sector participation in Moroccan public infrastructure projects, further cementing economic ties between London and Rabat. Algeria, the primary supporter of the Polisario Front's increasingly outdated and untenable separatist claims in Western Sahara, has sought to downplay the significance of the UK's policy shift. In a statement dripping with denial and desperation, Algiers dismissed the British move as 'inconsequential' to the ultimate resolution of the conflict. However, regional experts and analysts see the UK's embrace of Morocco's Autonomy Plan as yet another nail in the coffin of the Polisario's fading aspirations. The British endorsement not only deepens Algeria's diplomatic isolation on the Sahara dossier but also shows Morocco's undeniable momentum in rallying international support for its position. The UK's backing carries added historical weight, given Britain's complex role in the region's early 20th-century division. In 1904, the UK allowed France and Spain to carve up Morocco's territory without consulting the then-independent kingdom. Now, over a century later, London's course correction represents a step towards righting past wrongs and acknowledging Rabat's legitimate claims. Tags: Morocco UK relationsUK parliament
Morocco World
17-06-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
Morocco, Panama Explore New Chapter in Economic Partnership
Rabat – In a meeting on Monday, in Rabat, Moroccan Secretary of State for Foreign Trade Omar Hejira and Panamanian Foreign Minister Javier Martínez-Acha Vasquez agreed to deepen economic ties between their two countries. The discussions mark a new chapter in what the two ministers described as a timely and mutually beneficial coalition. The encounter noted the shared ambition to bring bilateral relations up to the level of trust and opportunity already reflected in their political dialogue. While Morocco and Panama come from different regions, their paths, according to Martinez-Acha Vasquez, intersect at a critical moment. 'Morocco and Panama find themselves at turning points in their development,' he said after the meeting. 'We face similar priorities, railway infrastructure, port expansions, electrical interconnection, and hospital construction. These are not abstract ideas; they are concrete projects shaping our countries.' Hejira described the current momentum as more than symbolic. Diplomatic understanding now moves toward economic reality, with Morocco looking to anchor new partnerships in strategic sectors such as logistics, agriculture, shipbuilding, and trade in services. 'We do not speak only of goodwill,' Hejira said. 'We build on it. Private sector actors from both countries now prepare to move into the Panamanian market and bring that energy back into Morocco.' Plans are already in motion. Morocco and Panama will soon host joint meetings to lay out targeted trade initiatives and set clear goals for cooperation. On Monday, Panama reaffirmed its firm support for Morocco's territorial integrity and the Autonomy Plan as the most credible path forward to resolve the dispute over Western Sahara. Following his meeting with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, Martinez-Acha Vasquez described Morocco's 2007 autonomy initiative as the only viable solution. He emphasized that Panama's position remains clear and unwavering, supporting the Moroccan initiative as a serious and lasting basis for resolving the conflict. Tags: economic tiesMorocco economyMorocco Panama tiesWestern sahara
Morocco World
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Morocco World
Guatemala Reaffirms Support for Morocco's Autonomy Plan at UN Session
Rabat – At a recent session of the UN's Special Committee on Decolonization (C24) in New York, Guatemala restated its clear support for Morocco's territorial integrity, calling for a political solution to the regional dispute over the Western Sahara. Representing Guatemala, the country's diplomat described Morocco's Autonomy Plan, proposed in 2007, as 'a realistic and credible foundation' for any future agreement. 'This proposal remains a serious path toward a negotiated outcome between the parties,' she said, noting the need to preserve Morocco's unity and sovereign rights. Guatemala's stance aligns with its broader approach in international forums, where it supports peaceful dialogue and stability. The representative underlined her country's trust in Morocco's efforts to find common ground and move toward a fair and lasting solution to the dispute. She also acknowledged the role of the UN Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy in trying to revive momentum in the political process, which has long remained fragile. Speaking beyond diplomatic formulas, the Guatemalan official pointed to Morocco's efforts in the southern provinces, not only as political gestures but as real changes. 'The country has adopted concrete measures to improve life in the region and to invest in its future,' she noted, referring to ongoing development projects and investment in infrastructure, education, and healthcare. Her statement closed with a reminder of Guatemala's own commitment. In December 2022, the country opened a consulate general in Dakhla, a move that went beyond symbolic recognition. For Guatemala, it marked a step toward stronger ties with Morocco and a firm position in support of a peaceful and sovereign solution. Today, Panama also reaffirmed its firm support for Morocco's territorial integrity and backed the Autonomy Plan as the most credible path forward to resolve the dispute over Western Sahara.
