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Rabat – The French embassy in Rabat hosted on Friday a grand celebration for Bastille Day, the national day of France celebrated on July 14.
In her speech during the ceremony, Consul General Sandrine Lelong-Motta expressed her joy at seeing such a large gathering for the national holiday.
Serving in Morocco since September 2020, she highlighted the diverse and dynamic French community in the country, which includes over 54,000 registered citizens, with nearly 11,000 in Rabat alone.
“Whether long-established in Morocco or recently arrived for a professional project tied to the Kingdom’s economic dynamism, the French community contributes daily to the vitality and quality of Franco-Moroccan relations,” she said.
The Consul General acknowledged the dedication of the consulate team in providing daily services to French nationals and organizing elections.
She also emphasized the importance of mobility between France and Morocco, noting the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent surge in visa applications, which saw an increase of 100,000 in 2023 compared to 2022.
Additionally, she mentioned the implementation of the alumni program for former students of French higher education institutions.
In June, France introduced a new simplified Schengen visa application process for Moroccan graduates of French universities. It aims to ease the visa application process for Moroccan holders of master’s degrees, engineering diplomas, or higher qualifications like doctorates.
The reform includes benefits such as dedicated appointment slots, expedited processing, and potential issuance of long-term Schengen circulation visas.
Lelong-Motta concluded by reaffirming the consulate’s commitment to fostering human exchanges between Morocco and France.
The event was attended by 2,000 guests, including five Moroccan ministers. This included Chakib Benmoussa, Minister of National Education, Preschool, and Sports, Nasser Bourita, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ryad Mezzour, Minister of Industry and Trade, Nadia Fettah, Minister of Economy and Finance, and Aawatif Hayar, Minister of Solidarity, Social Integration, and Family.
