Von der Leyen reaffirms willingness to deepen ties with Morocco

President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, expressed the Union's determination to further strengthen its relations with Morocco in remarks made during a visit to Morocco this week to promote Europe's new Global Gateway investment scheme.

On Tuesday (8 February), she met separately with Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch and Foreign minister Nasser Bourita tp discuss ways to foster EU-Moroccan partnership, the global challenges facing Morocco and Europe, as well as the new agenda for the Mediterranean.

Von der Leyen hailed the shared Moroccan-European cultural legacy which has been mutually nourished over the centuries. In her visit, she announced that the European Union will invest €1.6 billion ($1.8 billion) in Morocco to produce green energy. 

“I reaffirm our desire to continue to deepen our relations – as neighbours, as partners, as friends”, she stressed, affirming that the two partners can build a common and ambitious vision of their partnership. “We are also cooperating to strengthen the connectivity of our societies, including through a broad digital partnership”, von der Leyen said, affirming that “much can be done to further integrate our economies and better adapt them. This will benefit our companies and their employees”.

In 2019, the “Euro-Moroccan Partnership for Shared Prosperity” was established between the EU and Morocco for enhanced political consultation and better cooperation. 

Von der Leyen is also visiting Senegal today (9 February) in preparation for the European Union-African Union summit scheduled for next week in Brussels. The summit should identify a first set of strategic interventions in infrastructure, value-chain and private-sector development, vocational training and health. 

 

Source: commonspace.eu with North Africa  Post (Rabat) and DW (Berlin).
Picture: President of the European Commission Ursula Von der Leyen speaking in Rabat; Twitter: @vonderleyen. 

Related articles

Editor's choice
News
Borrell tells the European Parliament that the situation in Afghanistan was critical, but the EU will remain engaged

Borrell tells the European Parliament that the situation in Afghanistan was critical, but the EU will remain engaged

Borrell underlined that the European Union will make every effort to support the peace process and to remain a committed partner to the Afghan people. "Of course, we will have to take into account the evolving situation, but disengagement is not an option.  We are clear on that: there is no alternative to a negotiated political settlement, through inclusive peace talks.
Editor's choice
News
Russian President Vladimir Putin in Tajikistan for summit meetings

Russian President Vladimir Putin in Tajikistan for summit meetings

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Tajikistan in Central Asia to attend meetings with leaders of other ex-Soviet republics likely to focus on regional development and their relations with Moscow, according to Reuters. A Kremlin announcement said Putin would take part, on Thursday 9 October, in a Russia-Central Asia summit, also to be attended by the leaders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. They will then be joined by the leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Belarus at a meeting of the broader Commonwealth of Independent States bringing together former Soviet republics.

Popular

Editor's choice
News
Russian President Vladimir Putin in Tajikistan for summit meetings

Russian President Vladimir Putin in Tajikistan for summit meetings

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Tajikistan in Central Asia to attend meetings with leaders of other ex-Soviet republics likely to focus on regional development and their relations with Moscow, according to Reuters. A Kremlin announcement said Putin would take part, on Thursday 9 October, in a Russia-Central Asia summit, also to be attended by the leaders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. They will then be joined by the leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Belarus at a meeting of the broader Commonwealth of Independent States bringing together former Soviet republics.