The European Commissioner for Enlargement and European Policy for neighborhood, Mr Oliver Várhelyi, began this Wednesday a two-day working visit to the Morocco, from 1st to 3rd March, with the aim of launching new cooperation projects worth of more than 600 million euros.
In a second visit to Morocco in less than one year that reflects the European Commission's interest in the Kingdom as a strategic partner, Mr. Oliver Varhelyi, met in March 2nd, 2023, the Head of Government, Mr. Aziz Akhannouch. During this meeting, Mr. Varhelyi praised the dynamic that has marked relations between Morocco and the European Commission throughout the past 3 years, and which has resulted in the signing of a series of agreements that fall within the framework of the recommendations of the Kingdom's New Development Model and respond to the priorities set by HM King Mohammed VI, implemented by the government, particularly in the areas of social protection, mobilization of water resources and agricultural development.
Mr. Varhelyi specified that the signing, this Thursday, by Morocco and the EU of 5 cooperation programs for a total amount of 5.5 billion dirhams (nearly 500 million euros) to support the Kingdom's major reform projects, testifies of the "direct and serious" commitment from the European Union towards Morocco.
Mr Várhelyi who emphasized, “the extreme importance” of the Morocco-EU partnership, added that Morocco is a flagship country and a pillar of stability in the region.
The European Commissioner insisted that Morocco is and will be a major beneficiary of the EU's project agenda for the entire region, adding that this financial support covers the social, economic, agricultural, water and energy aspects, the latter being a crucial sector on a global scale.
During this visit, Mr Várhelyi said that the Kingdom has the potential to become an energy source not only for the region but also for Europe, adding that the European market is ready to receive energy from Morocco.
Highlighting that additional programs, adopted in 2022, must still be signed with Morocco in the coming months, for 126 million euros, Mr Várhelyi stressed the importance of other areas of cooperation between the Kingdom and the EU, including migration and the fight against criminal networks.
Finally, it is important to emphasize that the visits of the representatives of the European Union to Morocco are the demonstration of a credible, serious and institutional Europe and reiterates Morocco’s natural position within the region, even though a minority of European parties are trying to sabotage the Moroccan achievements and its relations with Europe.
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