Latest news with #Morocco-EU
Morocco World
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Morocco World
Morocco-EU Parliamentary Committee Plans October Meeting in Rabat
Rabat — The chairs of the Morocco-EU Joint Parliamentary Committee have agreed to hold their next meeting in Rabat at the end of October. Lahcen Haddad, representing Morocco's parliament, and Ruggero Razza, representing the European Parliament, made this announcement during a video conference on Tuesday, July 8. Both leaders stressed the importance of this upcoming meeting, as its timing carries special significance, taking place right after the launch of the New European Charter for the Mediterranean. This 'ambitious' initiative, as the chairs described it, aims to strengthen cooperation between the EU and its southern partners with a focus on shared interests and mutual benefits. The ultimate goal is to create a region that becomes 'more stable, prosperous, and connected.' In the joint statement, both Haddad and Razza renewed their commitment to building a unified vision for prosperity, standing on the foundations of peace, security, and comprehensive development. The joint parliamentary committee serves as a key platform for dialogue between Morocco and the EU, with regular meetings that provide a platform for addressing common challenges and opportunities in the Mediterranean region. Looking towards the future, the upcoming October meeting in Rabat will provide an opportunity for parliamentarians from both sides to explore new ways of working together under the framework of the new Mediterranean charter. The Moroccan parliament has been growing its bilateral cooperation with various European parliaments ever since they renewed their relations in December 2024 with a commitment to restore cooperation to 'its natural state.' Tensions between the two parliaments emerged in January 2023, when the European Parliament adopted a resolution on Morocco's human rights and press freedom situation. The resolution claimed that the North African country was 'harassing and intimidating journalists, human rights defenders, and diaspora activities,' which created unrest in relations between the two legislative institutions. Tags: Morocco EU parliamentsMorocco-EUMorocco-EU Parliamentary Committee
Maroc
25-06-2025
- Business
- Maroc
Morocco, EU Share Unique Relationship, Common Goal to Deepen Partnership, European Commissioner for Mediterranean Says
European Commissioner for the Mediterranean Dubravka Šuica lauded Tuesday the Morocco-EU relations, highlighting both parties' common goal to deepen their partnership. "We share a unique relationship and a common goal to deepen our partnership", the European official wrote on her X account following a phone conversation with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita. The talks cast light on the engagement of Morocco, a "key and reliable" partner of the EU, on the New Pact for the Mediterranean. In this regard, Šuica said she was looking forward to further exchanges during her forthcoming visit to the Kingdom. Rabat and Brussels, a benchmark in the European Union's neighborhood policy, are linked by a strategic partnership built on a solid foundation of values and vision. The highest European bodies, namely the 27 Heads of state and government, the Commission's President and its High Representative, have all reiterated the "immense" significance the EU attaches to strategic partnership with Morocco. It should be recalled that during the European Council held on October, 17th, 2024, all of the 27 Heads of state underlined the need to preserve and strengthen close ties with Morocco in all areas with the framework of Morocco-EU partnership. MAP: 25 June 2025
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
Zawya
19-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Morocco, Slovenia Reaffirm Determination to Strengthen Partnership in All Areas of Common Interest
Morocco and Slovenia reaffirmed, on Friday in Ljubljana, their desire to strengthen their partnership in all areas of common interest. This determination was expressed during talks held by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Mr. Nasser Bourita and Slovenia's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Mrs. Tanja Fajon. The two parties particularly highlighted the need to strengthen economic and trade cooperation, particularly in renewables, logistics, agriculture and the automotive industry. The two officials agreed on the importance of holding economic forums to encourage exchanges between economic players from both countries. They stressed the importance of strengthening cooperation between the Port of Koper and all Moroccan ports, in particular the Port of Tanger-Med. The two ministers also stressed the importance of promoting cooperation in the cultural and academic fields, with a view to fostering human and economic development. They called for the strengthening of intergovernmental and civil society exchanges within the framework of the Union for the Mediterranean. Mr. Bourita and Fajon encouraged bilateral and regional academic cooperation between the two Euro-Mediterranean universities, EMUNI in Piran, and the Euro-Mediterranean university of Fez in the fields of science, research, innovation and the blue economy in order to empower young people for the benefit of the entire Mediterranean. They reaffirmed their intention to contribute to strengthening the strategic partnership between the EU and the Kingdom of Morocco. In this respect, the two ministers stressed the importance of placing Morocco-EU cooperation on a sound and solid footing. Mr. Bourita's visit to Slovenia bears witness to the excellent relations between the Kingdom of Morocco and the Republic of Slovenia, based on mutual respect, reciprocal trust, ongoing consultation and cooperation. On this occasion, Morocco welcomed Slovenia's decision to open a resident Embassy in Rabat in June 2025. The two ministers agreed that Morocco's reciprocal decision to open a resident embassy in Ljubljana would give new impetus to cooperation between the two countries. Mr. Bourita, who congratulated Fajon on Slovenia's membership of the UN Security Council for the year 2024-2025, expressed his appreciation for the inclusive approach Slovenia brings to the work of the Security Council and to the relevant priorities of its mandate within this UN organization for the maintenance of international peace and security. The two sides also stressed the positive and constructive role played by Morocco and Slovenia in maintaining stability, security and peace in their respective regions, and their commitment to the universal fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter, and the need for peaceful conflict resolution with full respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of States. They stated their willingness to deepen their dialogue and cooperation on regional and international issues of common interest and major strategic challenges. During his visit to Ljubljana, Bourita was received by the President of the Republic of Slovenia, Nataša Pire Musar. He also held talks with the Speaker of the Slovenian National Assembly, Urška Klakočar Zupančič and the Slovenian Prime Minister, Robert Golob. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Kingdom of Morocco - Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates.
Ya Biladi
21-03-2025
- Business
- Ya Biladi
Morocco weighs response to EU tariffs on aluminum wheels
The Moroccan government announced on Thursday that it is considering «all possibilities» in response to the European Commission's decision to impose countervailing duties on aluminum wheels imported from Morocco. These tariffs, which Brussels justifies as a measure against «unfair practices» linked to Moroccan and Chinese public subsidies, have drawn opposition from Rabat. «The government is exploring all appropriate measures to address this situation», said government spokesperson Mustafa Baitas during a press conference. He emphasized the «comprehensive» nature of the Morocco-EU partnership, warning that it should not be subjected to a «selective logic». On March 14, the European Commission defended its decision, stating that the duties aim to protect «EU producers and 16,600 jobs» from subsidies deemed «incompatible with WTO rules». Brussels' anti-subsidy investigation found that Rabat provided «systematic» support to its automotive sector through financial aid, preferential loans, and tax exemptions. It also revealed that China directly financed one of the two Moroccan producer-exporters through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). According to the Commission, the tariffs range from 5.6% for companies benefiting solely from Moroccan subsidies to 31.4% for those also receiving Chinese support. These duties come on top of the anti-dumping taxes imposed in January 2023, which ranged from 9% to 17.5%.
