Rabat: Speaking at the opening of the High-Level Retreat on Future of Euro-Mediterranean Relations, held by Morocco’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bourita gave a frank assessment of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) and the Euro-Mediterranean process, advocating an ambitious and concrete roadmap for its revival.
According to Agence Marocaine De Presse, Bourita emphasized the importance of treating the Mediterranean as a shared ecosystem and asset rather than just a border or a file. He highlighted Morocco’s initiative to act as the ‘legitimate and obvious host’ for strategic reflection, citing the country’s reliability, experience, and pioneering role in the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership over the past three decades.
Morocco has been at the forefront of political commitments and actions, being the first to embody the Advanced Status, establish a Human Rights Subcommittee, and benefit from a Mobility Partnership. The Kingdom has also engaged in tangible cooperation with countries like Spain, France, and Germany, translating political commitments into concrete actions.
Bourita outlined Morocco’s vision of treating the South not as a periphery but as an integral part of a shared space to be built together. He underscored the ontological uncertainty about the identity of the Euro-Mediterranean process and called for a clear common vision and concrete objectives. He also pointed out the asymmetry of motivation among partners and the geopolitical divide in a region filled with tensions.
The minister called for a mutually beneficial partnership structured around four pillars: securing strategic supplies, optimizing economic connections, mobilizing skills through smart mobility, and rebuilding political dialogue. He proposed the creation of voluntary coalitions and a Euro-Mediterranean Cohesion Fund to implement this vision and regain social legitimacy.
The retreat aims to transform the Euro-Mediterranean area into a genuine geopolitical partnership by bringing together leaders, economic operators, and academics for open dialogue to anticipate future challenges and meet the people’s expectations.