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A delegation from the Morocco-France Parliamentary Friendship Group in the House of Councillors held a series of talks with French Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) on Tuesday at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, focused primarily on relations between Morocco and the EU and the prospects for their consolidation.
The talks notably centered on strengthening the partnership between the Kingdom and the European Union, as well as on ensuring the legal security of the agreements linking the two parties.
The Moroccan delegation, led by the President of the Morocco-France Parliamentary Friendship Group in the House of Councillors, Mohamed Zidouh, met with French MEPs François-Xavier Bellamy, Vice-President of the European People’s Party (EPP) Group, Pierre Jouvet, Vice-President of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D) Group, and MEP Fabienne Keller, Quaestor of the European Parliament.
During these exchanges, François-Xavier Bellamy highlighted the deep ties of friendship and cooperation between Morocco and France, describing the Kingdom as an “example” in terms of openness, dynamism, and development.
He also emphasized the all-encompassing development process upon which Morocco has embarked, stating that the European Union has a duty to recognize the efforts of a “serious, credible partner respectful of its commitments.”
Touching upon the issue of the Kingdom’s territorial integrity, Bellamy recalled France’s position recognizing the Moroccan character of the Sahara, stating that it falls “within the framework of respect for international law.”
Pierre Jouvet, for his part, described Morocco as an “indispensable geopolitical partner” for France and Europe, stressing the importance of further consolidating relations between the two countries and preserving the achievements of their partnership.
The President of the France-Morocco Friendship Group in the French Senate, Christian Cambon, highlighted the strength of relations between the two countries, noting that the Kingdom is a “strategic ally” of the European Union in several fields.
“The European institutions would benefit from adopting a more coherent approach towards the partnership with Morocco,” he insisted, highlighting the reforms and progress achieved by the Kingdom over the past two decades under the leadership of HM King Mohammed VI.
For his part, the President of the Morocco-France Parliamentary Friendship Group in the House of Councillors, Mohamed Zidouh, highlighted the economic, social, political, and institutional developments achieved by the Kingdom, as well as the stability and security it enjoys.
He particularly emphasized Morocco’s role as a committed partner of the European Union in the coordinated management of migration issues, noting that the Kingdom, in turn, faces challenges related to migratory movements.
Zidouh also advocated for strengthening cooperation between Morocco and the European Union to support the development of the African continent, which he presented as a key lever for addressing the root causes of irregular migration.
In this regard, he highlighted the development projects carried out in the Southern Provinces, citing notably health and higher education infrastructure, seawater desalination projects, road infrastructure, as well as the Dakhla Atlantic port, which aims to open up several African countries.
The Councillor also recalled United Nations Security Council Resolution 2797, stating that it now constitutes “the sole basis for any discussion aimed at resolving the artificial regional dispute over the Moroccan Sahara.”
In this context, Zidouh welcomed France’s position supporting the Kingdom’s sovereignty over its Sahara.
The delegation of the Morocco-France Parliamentary Friendship Group also met with the European Commissioner for the Mediterranean, Dubravka Šuica. She described the partnership between the European Union and Morocco as “unique,” stressing that the Kingdom remains the EU’s main partner in the Southern neighborhood and occupies a strategic geopolitical position.
She indicated that both parties are working to deepen their partnership, building on the Association Agreement that has linked them for over two decades. The EU intends to strengthen Morocco’s integration into the European market, notably through the alignment of standards and the removal of existing barriers, “for a prosperous and peaceful Mediterranean,” she affirmed.
Šuica further highlighted Morocco’s role as an African hub, noting that the Kingdom is a key partner in the new European approach towards the continent. She specified that the future Pact for the Mediterranean will be built around three pillars: human development; economic cooperation; and security, resilience, and migration management, expressing the European Union’s willingness to continue strengthening its partnership with the Kingdom across all these aspects.
The members of the Moroccan delegation also attended a plenary session of the European Parliament from the official gallery of the hemicycle.
Source: map
