Marrakech – In an interview with MAP, European Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen highlights the depth of the strategic, multi-dimensional partnership between the European Union and Morocco, and the prospects for boosting relations between Europe and Africa.

Visting Morocco to take part in the Annual Meetings of the World Bank (WB) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the senior European official also described these meetings as historic in the process of reforming the Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs).

1- WB/IMF Annual Meetings is held on African soil for the first time in 50 years. How can such flagship event contribute to boosting EU/Africa partnership?

Well, this is indeed a historical meeting. And I’m very delighted to be in Morocco, in Marrakech, the city that I really love. I think it is an important signal to the rest of the world that the role of Africa is increasing.

Africa is the continent of 1.3 billion citizens. A great majority of the citizens are below 30 years old. This continent is very dynamic, a lot of energy, enthusiasm, and of course, a lot of youth.

From the EU perspective, we adopted New Africa strategy three and a half years ago and we want to deepen our cooperation with Africa. That’s why we also have a global gateway investment strategy for Africa, which is up to 150 billion euros. The idea is that we can support Africa’s green and digital transitions. We are investing in energy, as well as a digital infrastructure, as well as transport corridors, but not only hard infrastructure.

We are also investing in soft connectivity, like education, health, and research. I think that the voice of Africa is being heard, loud and clear. These meetings in Marrakech, are one example of that, in addition to the fact that the African Union is now part of the G20. The international community also wants to pay more attention to Africa and gives it a stronger place in the global governance.

We all agree that our first priority is definitely to eradicate poverty. We have to reduce poverty in the world. At the same time, we also have to pay more attention to the climate change. We have to improve the resilience of our partners in the least developed countries, as well as low-middle income countries, which are the most vulnerable in terms of climate catastrophes and disasters.

2- Morocco is a key partner of the EU in Africa and the Mediterranean region. How do you see the future of this special strategic partnership and how it can help to boost Europe’s relations with Sub-Saharan Africa?

Indeed, Morocco is a strategic partner for the European Union and I want to thank Morocco for its hospitality. It has been indeed a great host. At the same time, of course, I also want to emphasize our solidarity because of very tragic earthquake that the country has unfortunately experienced recently. The European Union is showing its solidarity to Morocco and we are also willing to support the country in the post-earthquake reconstruction. But I think in general, when it comes to our cooperation with and bilateral relationship, Morocco is a very important trade partner for us.

Trade is very active between two of us. We are supporting also Morocco’s green transition. We are supporting, for instance, energy transition as well as efforts to adapt to climate change.

In addition to that, we are also investing in people. Morocco is also a country of young people. It is important that we have very active and lively, for instance, exchange program for students, as well as helping the country to tackle inequalities and improve social inclusion.

I therefore see a lot of opportunities in the future to deepen our cooperation. From the continental point of view, Morocco is an important player in the team of Africa.

3 – MDBs are actively considering major reforms. To what extent the WB/IMF Annual Meetings in Marrakech could give a new impetus to this agenda?

We all agree that our first priority is definitely to eradicate poverty. We have to reduce poverty in the world. But at the same time, we also have to pay more attention to the climate change. We have to improve the resilience of our partner countries in the least developed countries, as well as low -middle income countries, which are the most vulnerable in terms of climate catastrophes and disasters.

We have to be able to combine these two objectives. And that’s why we need to reform the World Bank, but also the global financial architecture. The European Union is very much supporting this objective.

In these meetings here in Marrakech, we are now able to have a new vision, new mission, and also the new playbook for the World Bank. This also paves the way for the low- and middle-income countries to have access to consensual financing.

But more needs to be done. I think that we can assess that these meetings which are taking place in Marrakech are historical also from that perspective and that the first steps of the reform of multilateral development banks have been taken here.

Source: Agency Morocaine De Presse