Morocco urges a more solidarity-oriented EU neighborhood policy

Morocco’s foreign minister Nasser Bourita said it is high time the EU updated its neighborhood policy by focusing more on solidarity and more reforms for more aid.

“The Morocco-EU partnership is doing better. It is more responsive, more pragmatic and in tune with the challenges of the moment,” he said.

“King Mohammed VI ensures the quality of this partnership and wants it to be permanently inscribed in a process of quality, clarity and ambition,” said Bourita at a press briefing following talks Tuesday in Rabat with European Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Olivér Várhelyi.

“Our partnership is also distinguished by solidarity which goes in both directions. It has manifested itself brilliantly in our response to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, whether through the mobilization of Moroccan productive sectors in support of European value chains, or the mobilization of European funds in support of Morocco’s efforts,” Bourita said.

Bourita also expressed Morocco’s readiness to cooperate with the EU saying that the Kingdom remains a credible partner in managing migration hence the need to support it.

For his part, the EU commissioner said “Morocco is a credible partner to the EU, which explains the importance of establishing together a detailed economic plan for a deeper partnership between the two parties.”

He expected a detailed economic plan for bilateral partnership to be submitted by next spring.