Mogherini’s Visit to Rabat Enhances EU-Morocco Strategic Partnership
The visit EU Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini is paying to Morocco since Wednesday confirms the depth of the strategic partnership binding the North African country to the European Union as the trip comes after the renewal of the Morocco-EU farm deal, including the Sahara.
During her stay, Mogherini will meet several top Moroccan officials. Talks will focus on bilateral relations in the political, economic, security, and migration fields as well as on latest developments on the regional and international scene.
Speaking to the press after meeting Moroccan foreign minister Nasser Bourita, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs & Security Policy said the adoption of the Morocco-EU agricultural agreement by the European Parliament with an overwhelming majority opens a new chapter in relations between the two parties.
Morocco is “strategic partner of the EU for 50 years”, she added, noting that the EU and Morocco are making an important forward step in their relations to build a regional partnership, particularly in the Mediterranean region, the Arab world and Africa.
The EU foreign policy chief also expressed the Union’ readiness to help Morocco speed up socioeconomic development, hailing the importance granted by King Mohammed VI to youth employment and vocational training, two priority areas in the future Morocco-EU cooperation.
Monday, the EU and Morocco signed in Brussels new fisheries agreement including the Sahara despite the hostile lobbying made by the polisario separatists backed by the Algerian regime.
Under the deal, which pledges to promote sustainable fishing, Rabat will receive annually $61.1 million in exchange for authorizing EU vessels to fish in Moroccan waters.
The agreement enhances the benefits and advantages of local Sahara inhabitants and strengthens the multidimensional strategic partnership existing between Morocco and the EU.
On Wednesday, the European Parliament approved with a large majority, the Morocco-EU farm partnership accord. The texts of both agreements extend European trade preferences to agricultural and fishery products from the southern Moroccan provinces, a major diplomatic victory for Morocco.
