![Spanish Representatives Oppose Morocco’s Joint Bid with Spain and Portugal Spain’ Prime Minister proposed a trio bid with Morocco and Portugal to host the 2030 World Cup; but the idea does not appear to be popular with Spanish politicians. The representatives of two Spanish political parties, the People’s Party and the Citizens-Party, have said they do not want Spain to submit a joint candidacy with Portugal and Morocco for the 2030 World Cup. In a meeting organized by the National Federation of Sports Facilities Entrepreneurs (FNEID) in Madrid, the People’s party representative, Vicente Azpitarte dismissively spoke about Spain joining a trio with Morocco and Portugal to organize the World Cup. Azpitarte specifically wondered whether Spain would get any advantages from teaming up with the two countries, t Spanish news outlet Iusport reported on Wednesday. The Citizens-Party representative, Roberto Nunez, agreed with Azpitarte. “We do not intend to organize a World Cup with other countries. Spain has more than enough capacity [to organize the World Cup], it is a country that has already organized a World Cup, and we do not understand that proposal,” Nunez said. The adviser of United Podemos, Oscar Penas, stated that he does not clearly see why “the priority is to organize a World Cup or an Olympiad at this time.” Morocco and Spain cooperate on a number of issues, ranging from security and migration to trade and education. On November 18, the Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, arrived in Morocco for a first visit since his election to premiership. During his visit, Sanchez proposed to both Head of Government Saad Eddine El Othmani and King Mohammed VI a joint bid for the 2030 World Cup. “We are launching a joint message, which is that this will be a bid between two continents. The King of Morocco is receptive and we’re going to work on it with Portugal. We are very excited about it,” Sanchez said.](https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/ABL-Launches-in-Casablanca-Becoming-Africa’s-First-Aircraft-Leaser-180x135.jpeg "ABL Launches in Casablanca, Becoming Africa’s First Aircraft Leaser")
Rabat - Morocco’s return to the African Union unifies Africa, said Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.
Rabat – Morocco’s return to the African Union unifies Africa, said Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.
Speaking in parliament, Mogherini, added that regional cooperation and integration are important for the prosperity, stability and peace of the continent. She noted that “Morocco and the African Union are basic partners of the European Union.”
Supported by 39 AU member states out of a total of 54, Morocco was re-admitted to the pan-African organization as a full-fledged member in January 2017, ending a 33-year-long absence.
Morocco’s late King Hassan II decided to withdraw the Kingdom from the AU in 1984, after the pan-African organization publicly accepted the self-proclaimed Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) as a full-fledged member state.
Following the re-admission of Morocco during the 28th Summit of the African Union, King Mohammed VI delivered a speech, highlighting the position of Morocco in Africa. The monarch elaborated on projects that have been created to consolidate South-South partnership as well as Morocco’s initiative to provide Sub-Saharan immigrants emergency assistance.
“It was necessary to withdraw from the AU; it has enabled Morocco’s action to be refocused in Africa,” King Mohammed VI said.
“We have thought it through carefully and it is now so obvious!” he continued. “It is time to return home; at a time when the Kingdom is among the most developed African nations and when a majority of Member States looks forward to our return, we have decided to join our family again.”
