Rabat: In a statement made today in Rabat, the Moroccan Foreign Minister highlighted that ‘the signing will take place shortly in Brussels’ and pending the finalization of internal procedures, ‘the agreement will be provisionally implemented as soon as it is signed.’
According to Agence Marocaine De Presse, the minister emphasized that ‘the agreement provides the necessary clarifications, in accordance with the Kingdom’s national fundamentals.’ It aligns with and embodies ‘the philosophy of the exchange of letters signed between the two parties in 2018,’ maintaining the overall framework of the new text. The agreement affirms ‘the application of the preferential tariffs to the Southern Provinces granted by the EU under the Association Agreement with Morocco,’ ensuring that ‘the market access conditions that apply to products from the North will apply to products from the Moroccan Sahara.’
The agreement introduces technical adjustments related to consumer information about product origin. Agricultural products from the Southern regions will be labeled to indicate their regions of production as “Laayoune-Sakia El Hamra” and “Dakhla-Oued Eddahab,” as explained by the minister. Furthermore, the agreement recalls the EU’s 2019 position on the Moroccan Sahara, acknowledging Morocco’s serious and credible efforts. Bourita added that the text also refers to the national positions adopted by several EU Member States, who have shown support for Morocco’s autonomy Initiative, driven by His Majesty King Mohammed VI.
Bourita clarified, ‘Of course, this is not a political agreement. It is a sectoral, commercial, and operational agreement. Nonetheless, it sends strong and clear signals.’ Under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, the Moroccan Sahara has become a zone of development, connectivity, and prosperity, emerging as a hub of stability and regional growth. The minister noted major global and regional powers’ interest in economic activities in the Moroccan Sahara, their willingness to support trade and investment, and efforts to transform it into a bridge between Europe and Africa, and between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic.
He cited examples such as ‘the strong statement made by the United States last week,’ the upcoming “Morocco-France Economic Forum in Dakhla,” and “the action planned by the British agency UK Export Finance.” The Agreement with the EU contributes qualitatively at the national level by enhancing agricultural GDP and creating jobs, particularly in the Moroccan Sahara region, the minister added.
Bourita reaffirmed, “This Agreement reinforces the long-standing and solid strategic partnership between Morocco and the EU,” emphasizing Morocco’s role as a reliable partner for the EU in Africa and the Arab world, with trade amounting to over £60 billion annually, including industrial, equipment, and agricultural products.
‘His Majesty the King has always wished the Morocco-EU Partnership to be implemented through joint and concrete actions,’ the minister noted, adding that the partnership extends to various areas: political, economic, social, environmental, migration and mobility, security, digital, and culture. Bourita concluded, ‘At a time when the regional context is complex and crises are becoming structural, this incremental progress allows Morocco and the EU to approach their common future with serenity and to consider an ambitious and promising path. We are currently in a position to deploy our full existing potential, be it to prepare for joint deadlines, to revitalize our political frameworks, such as the Association Council, or to lay the foundations for an even deeper strategic partnership that will guide our relations for years to come.’