Accra, Jan. 30, 2026 – Morocco and the European Union (EU) have announced a decisive shift in their three‑decade partnership, signalling the start of a deeper and more strategic phase of cooperation following the 15th session of the Morocco–EU Association Council held in Brussels on Thursday.
The meeting, the first at this level since 2019, was widely viewed as a political relaunch of relations at a time marked by global instability, regional security threats and complex geopolitical dynamics.
Both sides indicated readiness to move beyond traditional neighbourhood policies toward an alliance built on shared interests and long‑term strategic alignment.
Ahead of the Council session, the EU reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening cooperation with Morocco, citing pressing regional and international challenges. Priority areas identified included migration governance, security collaboration, and counter-terrorism, with the EU acknowledging Morocco’s active diplomatic role within multilateral forums such as the UN Human Rights Council.
Discussions touched on major global issues including the situations in Ukraine, the Middle East, Gaza and the Sahel. Gaza, in particular, was described as a priority matter.
The EU further highlighted Morocco’s recognised expertise in combating terrorism and extremism, noting its increasing importance as a security partner extending beyond North Africa.
Representing Morocco, Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita underscored what he described as “positive and promising prospects” for the partnership.
He emphasised Morocco’s long-standing position as the EU’s leading trading partner in both Africa and the southern Mediterranean, presenting the relationship as a benchmark for Europe’s engagement with the wider region.
Morocco, he said, continued to offer stability, predictability and strategic reliability at a time of heightened global uncertainty. This positioning, officials noted, reinforces the Kingdom’s role as a critical partner for the EU.
The Council also highlighted the resilience of bilateral ties in the face of recent political, legal and diplomatic challenges. Both parties projected unity, stressing that attempts to undermine the relationship had instead strengthened cooperation and deepened mutual trust.
This resilience, officials said, was reflected notably in the revised agricultural agreement—already in force since October—which explicitly includes Morocco’s southern provinces in EU tariff preferences.
In a key intervention during the meeting, Mr Bourita called for a qualitative evolution of the partnership, proposing a shift from a neighbourhood-based approach to a strategic alliance.
Morocco’s vision for the next phase includes regular senior‑level political dialogue, joint investments in priority sectors such as industry, digital technology and green energy, and mechanisms for early consultation that would allow Morocco to contribute to EU decision‑making on shared issues.
He stressed that any expanded partnership must be built on balanced governance, mutual recognition and predictability.
One of the most significant political developments was the emergence of a unified European position on the Moroccan Sahara. For the first time, all 27 EU member states aligned behind Morocco’s Autonomy Plan as the sole basis for a political resolution, in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2797.
The shift was described in Rabat as a major diplomatic breakthrough and the culmination of sustained diplomacy at the highest level.
European officials at the meeting acknowledged Morocco’s unique strategic role, its leadership in the Mediterranean, and its growing influence in Africa—particularly through the Kingdom’s Atlantic Initiative—as well as its active engagement in Middle East peace efforts.
Going forward, Morocco and the EU agreed to pursue a more ambitious roadmap, including establishing a regular high‑level political dialogue to guide the partnership; launching negotiations toward a New Enhanced Strategic Partnership covering security, industry, digital transformation and investment; formal recognition of Morocco’s distinct role as a regional and continental stabilising force.
The tone from Brussels suggests a transition toward a relationship defined by strategic interdependence rather than assistance, and by long‑term vision rather than transactional cooperation.
After 30 years of institutional ties, both sides now appear prepared to redefine their partnership—not merely as neighbours but as strategic actors shaping a shared geopolitical space across the Mediterranean.
Source: GNA