EU Commissioner Emphasizes Importance Of Partnership With Morocco For Regional Stability And Development
Rabat, March 3 (TNA) Oliver Varhelyi, the European Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Policy, emphasized the importance of the partnership between the European Union and Morocco during a press conference in Rabat. According to him, in a world filled with challenges, it is crucial to maintain strong and stable relationships like the one between Morocco and the EU. Morocco is a beacon country and a pillar of stability in the region, and the partnership with the EU is of paramount importance.
The European Commissioner also mentioned the signing of five cooperation programs worth a total of 5.5 billion dirhams between Morocco and the EU to support the Kingdom's major reform projects. This demonstrates the direct and serious commitment of the European Union alongside Morocco. Varhelyi expressed satisfaction with the nature and depth of cooperation between Morocco and the EU and emphasized that Morocco's ambitious reforms are close to European values.
Morocco will benefit greatly from the EU's project agenda for the region, and the EU's financial support will cover key sectors such as social, economic, agriculture, water, and energy. Varhelyi stressed that Morocco has the potential to become a source of energy for the region and Europe, and the European market is ready to receive Moroccan energy.
Moreover, cooperation between Morocco and the EU in the areas of migration and combating criminal networks is also crucial for consolidating ties between the two parties. Strengthening relations between the EU and Morocco is beneficial for both parties and promotes stability and development in the region.
It is important to note that Oliver Varhelyi's visit to Morocco is part of a dynamic of fruitful contacts, meetings, and interactions that have resulted in concrete cooperation agreements at all levels.
Relations between Morocco and Europe have never been stronger and more diversified, as demonstrated by the visit to Morocco of the Austrian Federal Chancellor leading a significant delegation from his country in March 2023, followed by the holding of the 17th session of the Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly in Rabat.
Finally, Varhelyi expressed the EU's willingness to participate in trilateral cooperation between Morocco, Israel, and the EU to address major challenges in the region, including water management, research, development, and bringing people closer together. The European Commissioner also congratulated Morocco for its removal from the "grey list" of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and praised the Moroccan-European cooperation that led to this result.
Varhelyi's second visit to Morocco in less than a year is part of the implementation of the Joint Political Declaration adopted in June 2019, which established the "Euro-Moroccan Partnership for Shared Prosperity" centered around four areas: political and security, economic, values, knowledge, and two horizontal axes: environment and migration. It also falls within the framework of regular contacts between the two parties, as illustrated by the recent visit to Morocco by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, Josep Borrell, in January.