Crece el volumen comercial entre Francia y Marruecos pese a las tensiones políticas

Bilateral trade between France and Morocco is on the right track despite the political tensions that have distanced their agendas in recent months. Compared to the previous year, the trade volume linking their economies increased by 24% in 2022 to reach 13.4 billion euros, according to data published by the French Embassy in Rabat. 

The report shows that French exports to Morocco soared by 40% to 6.5 billion euros, following in the wake of Moroccan exports to France, which rose by 12% to nearly 7 billion euros. The French diplomatic delegation in Rabat, headed since December by Christophe Lecourtier, described the figures as a sign that "once again confirms the solidity of the partnership". 

The French Foreign Ministry stresses that Paris remains an important economic partner for Rabat, despite growing competition in the areas of trade and investment. France is also Morocco's largest foreign investor, ahead of Spain. However, the new trade protocol signed by the Spanish and Moroccan governments at the 12th High Level Meeting held last week in Rabat threatens its position.

The first recipient of funds from the French Development Agency (AFD) is also Morocco, as was initialled in December 2019, during the last High-Level Meeting between the French and Moroccan Executives. 

But fluid economic relations have not been enough to boost diplomatic rapprochement. The Elysée's decision to drastically reduce the granting of visas to Algerian, Tunisian and Moroccan nationals, taken in retaliation for the unwillingness of their consular authorities to readmit their irregular migrants, soured relations. 

"Since his arrival at the end of December 2022 in Rabat, the French ambassador to Morocco has been working to clarify the burning issue of visas issued to Moroccan citizens," reports Africa Intelligence. French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna said she had taken steps with her Moroccan partners "to re-establish a normal consular relationship" at a joint press conference with her counterpart Nasser Bourita.

Colonna, who travelled to Rabat to prepare for the imminent visit of President Emmanuel Macron, tentatively scheduled for early 2023, conveyed to Bourita at their last meeting in December France's intention to "be in an exemplary partnership relationship with Morocco, an exceptional, fraternal and modern partnership". 

Added to the visa issue is the Western Sahara dossier, on which France has shown calculated ambiguity. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has defined the proposal for autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty presented by Rabat in 2007 as a basis for negotiations but has avoided explicitly closing ranks with the Alawite kingdom, as the United States, Germany and Spain have done. 

Macron's historic reconciliation plan with Algeria has raised eyebrows in Morocco, an actor with whom he competes for hegemony in the Maghreb. One of the objectives of his second five-year term is to relaunch relations with Algiers, in a context marked by Europe's energy needs. Diplomatic progress in Algeria will determine the direction of its relations with Morocco.