Bourita, Borrell turn page on disagreement, vow to strengthen relations

Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita and European Foreign Minister Josep Borrell affirmed on Thursday their shared will to strengthen their cooperation, and stressed the need to protect their partnership.

In a press conference, and following his meeting with the head of foreign policy of the EU, Josep Borrell, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Bourita declared that the Kingdom is working to strengthen the partnership with the European Union in various fields.

M. Nasser Bourita a reçu, aujourd’hui à Rabat, le Haut Représentant de l’Union Européenne pour les Affaires Etrangères et la Politique de Sécurité, Vice-Président de la Commission Européenne, M. Josep Borrell. pic.twitter.com/ScrAsegoxq

— Maroc Diplomatie ?? (@MarocDiplomatie) January 5, 2023

“The European Union is a key strategic partner for Morocco,” he said, adding that the neighborhood with the European Union offers great opportunities for cooperation.

Josep Borrell affirmed the European Union’s desire to “broaden” and “deepen” the partnership with Morocco, which “is based on values.”

The head of European diplomacy also announced two new initiatives to strengthen this partnership.

The first is a high-level dialogue on security which will be organized in Rabat soon, and enhanced cooperation in multilateral bodies between Morocco and the European Union, stressing that “the multilateral international architecture must be reviewed “, adding that the initiatives carried out by the countries of the North and the South have their place in this process of renewal.

Bourita on pestered relations

Bourita referred in his press statement to “the continuous media harassment and successive judicial harassment from within the European Union institutions and in the European Parliament through questions targeting Morocco.”

“Media harassment harms this strategic partnership, because there are European parties disturbed by the progress Morocco is achieving at the development and economic levels,” noting that “Morocco defends its interests and bets on its allies to protect this partnership that reflects geographical proximity and the exchange of values.”

The Moroccan official stressed that “the visit of the European official reflects the strategic partnership with Europe, especially after this year that we bid farewell to, which was marked by the strengthening of strategic partnerships through green cooperation and green financing.”

Turning the page

The visit of the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs ao comes after turning the page on the dispute with him Last September, when Rabat canceled a bilateral meeting that was scheduled in the Moroccan capital with the European High Official.

The head of EU diplomacy had spoken in favor of “organizing a consultation so that it is the Sahrawi people who decide their future.”

Bourita had deplored statements made by Borrell on the solution of the Western Sahara issue, saying they “do not reflect the position of Spain and the European Union.”

Borrell was forced to revise his position, stressing that the EU “defends a consensual solution between the parties, by mutual agreement, achieved within the framework of UN resolutions.”