Post Covid-19 Crisis: Rabat calls for new cooperation model with EU

Morocco and the European Union discussed on Monday new partnership opportunities in the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic which has affected global trade and economy.

During videoconference talks with the European Commissioner for Competition Margrethe Vestager, Moroccan minister of Industry and Trade Moulay Hafid Elalamy called for “a deep review of the EU- Morocco partnership” taking into account the lessons learned from the impacts of the pandemic.

The coronavirus crisis has shown that Europe needs to rethink its production of strategic activities, said Elalamy. He suggested to the EU official that the two sides conduct a joint study on a new model of cooperation that will enhance their resilience to such crises.

Thanks to its adaptability capacity, the Moroccan industrial sector can contribute to strengthening this resilience, the minister told the media,  noting that the EU Commissioner supports Morocco’s proposal of opening up new horizons of partnership with the European bloc.

Moroccan chairman of the National Commission for the Control of Personal Data Protection (CNDP), Omar Seghrouchni, attended the videoconference meeting with Vestager.

Besides the future partnership between Morocco and EU after the coronavirus crisis, talks touched on the experiences of Morocco and Europe in personal data protection and privacy.

On this occasion, Mr.Seghrouchni said Morocco, a leader in this field in Africa, is looking at some technological projects to accompany the lockdown relaxing measures, while protecting citizens’ personal data.