Nearly three decades after the signing of the association agreement between Morocco and the European Union in 1996, both parties are eager to breathe new life into their partnership. The meeting held this Thursday in Brussels is a clear reflection of this commitment. DR ‹ › On Thursday, January 29, Brussels hosted the 15th session of the Association Council between Morocco and the European Union. The meeting was co-chaired by Kaja Kallas, the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and Nasser Bourita, Morocco's Minister of Foreign Affairs. The European Commission was represented by Dubravka Šuica, Commissioner for the Mediterranean. Ahead of the meeting, Kallas told reporters that «Morocco is one of our closest partners, and our cooperation has continued to strengthen over the years, particularly within the framework of the Mediterranean Pact». She also informed her Moroccan counterpart that the session would provide an opportunity «to officially present the EU's new position on Western Sahara». According to Kallas, «this change reflects last October's United Nations Security Council resolution and underscores the EU's continued support for the UN-led process aimed at reaching a sustainable solution to the Western Sahara issue». These remarks came a day after the publication, in the EU's Official Journal, of the agricultural agreement signed on October 3, which includes products originating from the Sahara, a development opposed by the Polisario and its supporters in the European Parliament. «EU's leading trade partner south of the Mediterranean and in Africa» Kallas explained that «today's meeting focuses on areas where we want to further strengthen cooperation, particularly judicial cooperation, with expected progress in negotiations related to Europol and Eurojust». She added that discussions would also address «the strengthening of human rights, an area in which Morocco has recently played an important role within the Human Rights Council», as well as «security, which remains a major concern today». The EU's top diplomat also voiced concern over «tankers belonging to the Russian shadow fleet operating in the Mediterranean, while Russian mercenaries remain active in Africa». For his part, Bourita stressed that the meeting «holds particular symbolic, political, and economic significance», noting that it comes on the eve of the 30th anniversary of the EU–Morocco Association Agreement. He underlined that Morocco has always been «a demanding partner in expressing its expectations and a loyal one in honoring its commitments», describing this approach as the foundation of future relations. On the economic front, Bourita recalled that Morocco remains the European Union's leading trading partner south of the Mediterranean and in Africa. This positive momentum could nevertheless be affected by the support shown by certain groups of MEPs for Polisario positions, as illustrated by developments in the European Parliament on November 26. According to the European side, the agenda of the 15th session included «an exchange of views on political, economic, and commercial issues, democracy and human rights, as well as cooperation, particularly in migration, ecological transition, innovation, inclusive and sustainable socio-economic development, people-to-people exchanges, and security». The meeting also allowed both sides to «review the implementation of the EU–Morocco Association Agreement (1996) on the occasion of its 30th anniversary, and to reaffirm their shared determination to revive and deepen the partnership». Discussions concluded with an exchange on regional and international developments, with a particular focus on issues related to regional stability.
