The European Council calls for closer partnership with Morocco

The European Council, the body that defines the European Union’s overall policies and priorities, called for strengthening ties with Morocco at all levels, echoing similar calls by member states following a politically biased verdict by the ECJ.

The ECJ has meddled in the EU’s deals with third parties annulling trade deals with Morocco because they covered Sahara goods. The verdict was denounced by Morocco as biased and fraught with factual errors.

The European Council made it clear that it was the body in charge of defining the direction of the EU’s foreign policy.

The verdict raised concerns as to the intervention of the EU’s nascent judiciary in matters of diplomatic essence.

Most EU member states have expressed views similar to the European Council with regards to the need for a closer partnership with Morocco. These include France, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Hungary, Finland, the Czech Republic, and Luxembourg.

Few days ago, the EU’s foreign policy chief Joseph Borrel said the EU attaches high value to its relations with Morocco.