Latest news with #EU-Morocco
Ya Biladi
26-06-2025
- Business
- Ya Biladi
EU Commissioner for Mediterranean hails Morocco as key partner, eyes visit to deepen ties
On Wednesday, June 25, European Commissioner for the Mediterranean, Dubravka Šuica, held a phone call with Nasser Bourita, Morocco's Minister of Foreign Affairs. «We spoke on Morocco's engagement on the New Pact for the Mediterranean. We share a unique relationship and a common goal to deepen our partnership», Šuica said on X. She described Morocco as «a key and reliable EU partner» and announced her intention to continue discussions by visiting Morocco soon. This isn't their first exchange. On December 17, 2024, Šuica had also spoken by phone with Bourita. «We addressed ways to jointly strengthen the EU-Morocco partnership across all sectors, contributing to mutual growth and prosperity», she said at the time. During her confirmation hearing on November 5, 2024, for the post of Commissioner for the Mediterranean, the Croatian official expressed her intention to propose an agreement between Morocco and the EU to address irregular migration. «We have good relations with Morocco. It can help us, and we can help it», she stated. It's worth noting that the EU has already signed similar partnerships with Tunisia and Egypt, announced in June 2023 and March 2024 respectively, in exchange for financial aid packages of €900 million for Tunisia and €7.4 billion for Egypt.
Morocco World
25-06-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
EU Official Pledges Efforts to Strengthen Unique Ties with Morocco
Rabat – Dubravka Šuica, Commissioner for the Mediterranean and Demography, renewed the importance of EU-Morocco cooperation, noting that both sides share a common goal. 'We share a unique relationship and a common goal to deepen our partnership,' she wrote on X on Tuesday, signaling an upcoming visit to Morocco. The European official made her remarks after a phone call with Morocco's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Bourita, describing Morocco as a key and reliable partner for the EU. The European Union has been viewing the North African country as a strategic partner across different sectors. Officials from the EU and the bloc's member states, particularly Spain and France, have been consistently stressing the importance of partnership with Rabat in key areas such as migration management, trade, and regional security. Morocco is the EU's 18 biggest partner. In 2024, total trade in goods between the two parties reached over €60.6 billion, with EU imports from Morocco amounting to €25.3 billion. The imports were led by transport equipment, machinery, and appliances, along with vegetable products and textiles. EU's exports to Morocco, meanwhile, amounted to €35.3 billion, led by machinery and appliances. The Morocco-EU ties faced recent challenges, notably following a controversial ruling by the European Court of Justice (ECJ), which annulled the fisheries and agriculture agreement between the two parties. In October last year, the court ruled that the European Commission 'violated the right of self-determination of Western Sahara 's population' by concluding trade agreements with Morocco that included products from 'the disputed territory.' Morocco responded to the court's ruling, saying that it contained legal errors and suspicious mistakes. The ministry further argued that this indicates a 'complete misunderstanding of the realities of the case, if not a blatant political bias.' Brussels also renewed its commitment to its partnership with Morocco, adding that it seeks to uphold its long-standing, strategic, and mutually beneficial relationship with Rabat. 'The EU reiterates the high value it attaches to its strategic partnership with Morocco, which is long-standing, wide-ranging, and deep,' the statement said. In response to European officials' remarks on the importance of Morocco as a strategic ally, Bourita previously called on the EU to take action and not just words, to safeguard the partnership with Rabat. 'Morocco is waiting for the European Union to clarify how it intends to address the provocations and legal and economic pressures that Morocco is currently facing,' Bourita said in November last year. The country is expecting the EU to propose 'meaningful suggestions and solutions that reflect its commitment to this partnership,' he added. Tags: EU and MoroccoMorocco and EU
Ya Biladi
30-05-2025
- Politics
- Ya Biladi
Morocco and EU strengthen strategic partnership for Sahel peace and security
On Friday in Rabat, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccans Living Abroad, Nasser Bourita, met with João Cravinho, the European Union (EU) Special Representative for the Sahel region. Following the meeting, Cravinho told the press that the EU enjoys a «fruitful and very strong relationship» with Morocco, describing it as highly versatile and covering multiple areas. He emphasized that cooperation and dialogue with the Kingdom are a «top priority». «The close ties Morocco maintains with the Sahel countries provide us with valuable insights, a deeper understanding, and opportunities to identify joint initiatives that benefit the people of the Sahel», Cravinho said. He highlighted that the Sahel region is «fragile both in terms of security and socio-economic conditions — two closely linked challenges that require urgent attention». He added that both the EU and Morocco have a critical role to play in addressing these issues. Cravinho also explained that his visit aims to explore ways to strengthen the EU-Morocco partnership regarding the Sahel, with the goal of advancing peace and security for the region's populations.
Ya Biladi
27-05-2025
- Business
- Ya Biladi
EIB grants €70 million to ONEE to strengthen Morocco's water infrastructure
The European Investment Bank (EIB) announced on Monday, May 26, that it has signed a €70 million financing agreement with Morocco's National Office of Electricity and Potable Water (ONEE) to modernize water infrastructure across the kingdom, particularly in small and medium-sized cities and rural areas. The loan, supported by European Union guarantees, will fund equipment modernization, network loss reduction, and energy efficiency improvements in water facilities. The project addresses mounting water stress caused by rising temperatures, increased drought episodes, and growing consumption demands, reads a press release. The financing supports ONEE's 2025-2030 Equipment Plan and contributes to reconstruction efforts following infrastructure damage from the September 2023 earthquake. The initiative aligns with Morocco's National Water Supply and Irrigation Program (PNAEPI, 2020-2027) and EU-Morocco partnership objectives for green transition. EIB Vice-President Ioannis Tsakiris emphasized the bank's commitment to supporting Morocco's sustainable water solutions, while EU Ambassador Patricia Llombart Cussac highlighted the partnership's 20-year collaboration, noting €22 billion in EU and member state investments in Moroccan reforms and infrastructure. ONEE Director General Tarik Hamane stated that the project will secure reliable water access for populations while optimizing conventional water resource allocation amid increased drought frequency.
Morocco World
17-04-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
Spain Urges Stronger EU-Morocco Ties Amid Trade Agreement Challenges
Rabat– Spain has called for renewed momentum in relations between the European Union and Morocco. The call comes in response to last year's European court ruling that cast uncertainty over key trade agreements due to the ongoing dispute over the Moroccan Sahara. Speaking at a joint press conference with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita in Madrid on Thursday, Spain's Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares emphasized the strategic importance of the EU's partnership with Rabat. 'Spain supports the swift convening of an EU-Morocco Council to inject new energy into the relationship,' Albares said, underlining Morocco's 'privileged status' with the European bloc. Morocco and the EU have enjoyed close cooperation since signing an association agreement in 1996, particularly in sectors such as agriculture and fisheries. However, recent legal developments have put pressure on these ties. In October 2024, the European Court of Justice upheld a 2021 ruling annulling parts of trade deals that allowed Morocco to export products from the Moroccan Sahara to European markets. The court cited concerns over the principle of self-determination, casting a shadow over the future of EU-Morocco cooperation. Amid these tensions, Spain has reaffirmed its support for Morocco's autonomy plan for the region, aligning itself with the positions of the United States and France. Albares reiterated Spain's commitment to a strong, stable relationship with Morocco as essential for regional stability and cooperation. Foreign Minister Bourita described Morocco-Spain relations as being at 'their best moment,' citing a growing alignment between the two countries since 2022. He stressed Rabat's willingness to deepen ties and attract further Spanish investment. Both ministers welcomed the positive trajectory of bilateral relations, which they said are anchored in transparency, mutual trust, and continuous constructive dialogue. They hailed the strength of their strategic partnership and reaffirmed their shared determination to elevate it further as a model of exemplary cooperation. The meeting in Madrid was also seen as a significant milestone in bilateral relations, setting the stage for a multidimensional partnership built on mutual respect and shared goals. Bourita and Albares talked about the value of high-level exchanges and initiatives that have enhanced cooperation between the two kingdoms. In particular, the two officials praised the progress made in joint projects and emphasized the spirit of collaboration driving preparations for the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which Morocco, Spain, and Portugal will co-host. The event, they noted, is expected to further deepen ties and generate positive economic and diplomatic momentum across the region. Tags: EU Court of JusticeEU-MoroccoMorocco spain
