Spain confirms its support for the autonomy plan for the Moroccan Sahara
- Spanish support for the Moroccan Sahara
- European Union and the Mediterranean
- Strengthening the strategic partnership
- 2030 World Cup
The Spanish government has joined other major countries such as the United States and France in ratifying their support for the Moroccan autonomy plan for the Sahara, following the visit of Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita. The tour also included Hungary, Croatia, Moldova, and Estonia.
In the midst of Holy Thursday celebrations, with the Palacio de Viana in the center of Madrid as the setting for major diplomatic meetings, Spanish Minister José Manuel Albares, accompanied by his Moroccan counterpart, Nasser Bourita, read a statement to the media, without taking questions, in which, after highlighting the great achievements in bilateral relations in recent years, such as the opening of customs in Ceuta and Melilla, the nearly $23 billion in trade in 2024, cooperation on migration and security and the fight against terrorism, he acknowledged the importance of the Sahara issue for Morocco. 000 million euros in trade in 2024, cooperation on migration and security and the fight against terrorism, he acknowledged the importance of the Sahara issue for Morocco, as well as the serious and credible efforts of the neighboring Kingdom within the framework of the United Nations to reach a mutually acceptable solution.
Spanish support for the Moroccan Sahara
In this regard, Spain considers the Moroccan autonomy initiative, presented by Morocco in 2007, to be the most serious, realistic and credible basis for the resolution of this dispute.
This confirmation of Spain's position is part of the international dynamic created under the impetus of King Mohammed VI, in support of Morocco's sovereignty over its Sahara and the autonomy initiative as the only solution to this dispute.
The Moroccan minister stressed that Spain is one of the 22 member countries of the European Union which, together with others such as the United States and Arab countries in the Gulf, Africa and Latin America, have expressed their support for an initiative that aims to reach a solution in United Nations. According to United Nations sources, the efforts are aimed at achieving a solution during 2025 and 2026.
In this way, Spain reaffirms its unwavering support for the Moroccan initiative and consolidates the international momentum created, which “was welcomed by the latest United Nations Security Council resolution 2756” and “urges that it be seized upon.”
With its solid and clear position in favor of the autonomy plan, Spain is sending a clear message about its commitment to join this international dynamic and contribute to the political process with a view to reaching a definitive, realistic and compromise-based solution to the regional dispute over the Moroccan Sahara.
European Union and the Mediterranean
Albares stressed the need to create an area of cooperation, prosperity, and security in the Mediterranean at a particularly sensitive time, when Morocco is a key partner and ally in relaunching the Union for the Mediterranean.
He referred to Spain's efforts within the European Union to improve relations with its southern neighbors, noting that the appointment of a commissioner for the region is a step in the right direction and that the drafting of the new pact for the Mediterranean will open up a new paradigm in which Morocco has much to contribute.
Spain, the Spanish minister said, supports Morocco's privileged status with the EU, which has been hugely beneficial for both parties, and this must continue to be implemented and developed with the holding of an EU-Morocco meeting to give new impetus to this strategic partnership.
Strengthening the strategic partnership
In their statement to the press after the meeting and before lunch, the two foreign ministers noted with satisfaction the positive momentum in relations between Morocco and Spain, based on the principles of transparency, mutual trust, and ongoing and constructive dialogue.
They also praised the excellence of this forward-looking strategic partnership and reaffirmed their common desire to work to strengthen this privileged partnership, which is a model of exemplary cooperation.
Albares extended the influence of this good relationship to the Mediterranean, which will reach a new milestone at the next High-Level Meeting to be held in Spain, with special reference to migration cooperation, within the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, with initiatives on circular migration and the fight against human trafficking mafias.
In the economic and commercial sphere, he provided data on relations between the two countries, with Spain being Morocco's leading trading partner as both a supplier and customer, with a new record for trade in 2024 of close to €23 billion, an increase of more than 7% over the previous year. Six thousand Spanish companies export to Morocco and more than 900 have subsidiaries or holdings in Moroccan companies, making the neighboring country the leading destination for Spanish investment in Africa.
The construction of Morocco's largest desalination plant in Casablanca and the manufacture of trains, as well as the excellent welcome given to the president of the Canary Islands during his recent visit and to Spanish educational centers, were examples highlighted by the Spanish minister.
2030 World Cup
This dynamic, they said, is part of a new phase in relations between the two countries, boosted by the meeting between King Mohammed VI, and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez in April 2022, and they emphasized the importance of this meeting, which marked the beginning of a new era in relations between the two kingdoms and gave new impetus to the establishment of a multidimensional partnership based on trust, permanent dialogue, and mutual respect for commitments.
In this context, the two ministers renewed their commitment to address the various issues of common interest in a spirit of trust and consultation, with a view to further strengthening multisectoral and multidimensional bilateral cooperation, particularly in its human, economic, commercial, and security dimensions, and welcomed the numerous initiatives and visits by senior officials from both sides, which contributed to strengthening relations between the two countries.
Both ministers expressed particular interest in the significant progress made on joint projects, as well as in the agreement marking the preparations for the organization of the 2030 World Cup, an event that will have a positive impact on all aspects of the privileged partnership between Morocco and Spain.