Akhannouch comes to Brussels to discuss prospects for Morocco's strategic partnership with the EU
The Moroccan Prime Minister, Aziz Akhannouch, met in Brussels with the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, to discuss ways of supporting the partnership between the two parties in political and economic terms and to resolve bilateral issues.
Observers confirmed that the meeting succeeded in strengthening the commitment to cooperation between Morocco and Europe in several structural areas, in a situation marked by numerous challenges, especially in the field of the first green partnership concluded by the EU on digital partnerships, aviation, marine fisheries, research and trade. The two sides discussed various aspects of the partnership, which is a benchmark of the European Neighbourhood Policy and has been increasingly enriched in recent years.
On his social network X, the Moroccan Prime Minister commented that the "bilateral relationship between Europe and Morocco is shaped by powerful and acceptable agreements in our interests, and in cooperation in all areas, which is the priority of the European Union". Belgian Prime Minister Alexandre de Croix also said that deepening the dialogue with the Moroccan prime minister is "a good thing". The two officials discussed ways to strengthen bilateral relations and resolve current and future common problems, in line with the aspirations of the leaders of the two countries, King Mohammed VI of Morocco and King Philippe of Belgium.
"This meeting between the two sides at the headquarters of the European Union aims to redefine their partnership," Khaled al-Sharqawi al-Samuni, director of the Centre for Political and Strategic Studies in Rabat, said in a statement to Al-Arab. "Respect and equality between Morocco and the European Union must be emphasised, while rejecting the logic of negotiation in which Morocco finds itself. This includes some countries that are allied with Morocco on a number of issues, including the maritime fisheries agreement," he added.
شاركت اليوم ببروكسيل، رفقة وزير الشؤون الخارجية والتعاون الإفريقي والمغاربة المقيمين بالخارج، السيد ناصر بوريطة، في أشغال منتدى “البوابة العالمية” (Global Gateway). (1/3) pic.twitter.com/MIYrq9R5lx
— رئيس الحكومة المغربية (@ChefGov_ma) October 25, 2023
"The Moroccan Prime Minister's meetings with European officials along with the Foreign Minister are aimed at building a bilateral partnership based on Morocco's vision of political sovereignty," said Hisham Moatad, an academic specialising in international relations. The meeting coincides with a debate in the European Court of Justice on an appeal by the European Commission against the country's decision to end its fisheries agreement with Morocco covering the southern part of the kingdom.
Following objections from the Polisario Front, the judge invalidated two contracts related to fisheries and agriculture. The European Commission countries, including Spain, which currently holds the EU presidency, consider that the Polisario does not have legal capacity because "it is a limited representative body that exceeds the requirement of recognition of the population of southern Morocco".
On 17 July the Protocol to the Maritime Fisheries Agreement between Morocco and the European Union was terminated due to "Spanish concerns" over the impact on local fishermen, finally requesting an extension. In September 2021, the Court of Justice of the European Union ruled that the fisheries and agricultural products agreement with the Kingdom of Morocco should be suspended, calling it "a violation of the riches of the Sahara region".
From this perspective, the French daily Le Monde addressed the issue, pointing out that the Kingdom of Morocco has alternatives in the event of a negative decision by the Court of Justice of the European Union in the fisheries and agriculture sectors. The agreement signed by Rabat and Brussels will put pressure on Morocco to further expand its partnership outside the EU through negotiations with Japan, Russia and China. On the future of the marine fisheries agreement, the European Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, Virginius Sinkevičius, said: "The Commission intends to renew the agreement with Rabat, despite the difficulties, and our priority is to extend the agreement".
