DR ‹ › Abdellatif Jouahri, Governor of Bank Al-Maghrib, expressed confidence on Tuesday in Rabat that Moroccan banks will be able to maintain their operations in Europe, following an agreement reached with France on the implementation of the European CRD VI directive. Set to take effect on July 9, 2024, the directive requires banking institutions from non-EU countries to establish an accredited branch in each member state where they provide basic banking services, with full compliance expected by January 2027. In this context, Morocco and the French Treasury signed an agreement in 2025 to adapt the application of this regulation. Approved by the European Commission, the deal is designed to ensure the continued presence of Moroccan banks in Europe, particularly in serving Moroccans residing abroad (MREs). Under this adjusted framework, Moroccan institutions will be able to continue offering intermediary services to their clients across the European Union without major disruption. «The fact that this agreement allows our banks to continue operating under satisfactory conditions constitutes a significant strategic advantage», Jouahri said during a press conference following the first quarterly meeting of the Central Bank Council for 2026. He added that the progress achieved with France could serve as a model for other European partners. In this regard, a working group led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is continuing discussions with several member states. Following initial exchanges with the Netherlands and Belgium, talks with both countries are ongoing. Negotiations are also expected to begin soon with Spain and Italy.
