King Mohammed VI & President Macron Open New Chapter in Moroccan-French Exceptional Partnership
King Mohammed VI and French President Emmanuel Macron opened a new chapter in the long history between France and Morocco, by elevating their bilateral ties to higher level so that they can take up common regional and international challenges.
The two Heads of State signed on Monday at the Rabat Royal Place a joint Declaration Dubbed: “Renewed Exceptional Partnership”, during a ceremony held in the presence of Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan and Prince Moulay Rachid.
The document was sealed during the first day of the state visit of Macron to Morocco. The new partnership will be based on the profound relations between the two countries, which are rooted in history and exceptionally rich human and cultural ties and which marked their friendship and cooperation for several decades.
The two Heads of State voiced commitment to build on the achievements and partnership’s synergies to usher a new phase, in strategic sectors that respond to the transformations of the two countries and the shifting dynamics on the regional and international scenes.
They look forward to setting up a comprehensive, stable, and sustainable strategic framework for French-Moroccan relations, through a robust and forward-looking partnership, supported at the highest levels of both States, engaging all their components, and implemented in a concrete, dynamic, and innovative way to fulfill the aspirations of present and future generations.
The two Heads of State expressed their resolve to act as strategic partners in all areas, notably political dialogue, economic partnership and human exchanges.
They reaffirmed that their countries’ joint action, both bilaterally and internationally, would continue to rest on the following principles: State-to-State relation, sovereign equality, non-interference in internal affairs and foreign policy decisions, respect for commitments, trust, transparency, early consultation, solidarity, and responsibility of each towards the other.
They pledged to strengthen further economic cooperation and identified several strategic sectors that need intensified attention and increased efforts. They cited in this regard health, vaccine production, water resources management, agriculture, food security, infrastructure development, urban mobility, energy transition, renewables, Artificial Intelligence, security, defense, education, scientific research and cooperation in sports and major events’ organization.
The two Heads of State called for facilitating legal mobility, fighting irregular immigration and promoting cooperation in readmission and prevention of departures, as well as strengthening coordination between the countries of origin, transit and destination, based on the shared responsibility principle.
The French President commended the important actions led the King for Africa’s stability and development, while the King follows closely Paris efforts to renew the partnership between France, Europe and African countries and to adapt it to the 21st century challenges in a spirit of respect and mutual interests.
About the Sahara issue, the two Heads of State stressed that the “reinforced exceptional partnership” between Morocco and France had been intended to be implemented in the widest possible territorial scope, in light of the French position expressed on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the King’s accession to the Throne. In a letter to the Monarch on this anniversary, President Macron emphasized: “I consider that the present and future of Western Sahara lie within the framework of Moroccan sovereignty […] For France, autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty is the framework within which this issue shall be resolved. Our support for the autonomy plan proposed by Morocco in 2007 is clear and unwavering. For France, this constitutes now the only basis to achieve a just, lasting, and negotiated political solution, in accordance with United Nations Security Council resolutions.”
The French President particularly reaffirmed his commitment that France will further support Morocco’s efforts to promote the region’s economic and social development, for the benefit of the local populations.
Internationally, the two Heads of State strongly affirmed their commitment to jointly contributing to resolve the crises faced by the international community, whether to address the exacerbation of conflictuality and the weakened rule of law or to better protect global public goods (climate, environment, biodiversity, oceans), particularly in Africa and the Euro-Mediterranean area.
The two Heads of State agreed to directly oversee the “reinforced exceptional partnership” between Morocco and France. They will determine its priorities and give the necessary impetus for its full implementation. They will regularly follow, including by meeting when required, the progress of the “reinforced exceptional partnership.”
They agreed to designate a restricted, parity strategic monitoring committee, tasked with developing any proposal that would further consolidate the “reinforced exceptional partnership”. The committee will complement, but not replace, existing bilateral cooperation steering bodies.
