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Rabat – European Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement, Oliver Varhelyi, arrived in Morocco on Monday for a pivotal mission aimed at bolstering bilateral ties and advancing key development initiatives.
During the visit, Varhelyi is set to meet with Foreign Affairs Minister Nasser Bourita, Economy and Finance Minister Nadia Fettah, and Mohamed Benchaaboun, Director General of the Mohammed VI Investment Fund, according to a statement from the European Union Delegation in Morocco.
A central highlight of the trip is the signing of a €190 million funding agreement with Morocco’s Minister Delegate in charge of the Budget, Fouzi Lekjaa.
The funds, part of a €225 million integrated program, are dedicated to reconstructing and revitalizing areas affected by the September 2023 earthquake.
The program aims to assist affected communities by restoring essential public services and stimulating local economic recovery.
Varhelyi’s itinerary also includes a visit to the El Menzeh wastewater treatment plant, a facility under the National Office for Electricity and Drinking Water (ONEE).
This initiative, supported by the EU’s Economic and Investment Plan for the Southern Neighborhood, reflects the EU’s commitment to Morocco’s sustainable development.
The plan has been instrumental in advancing reforms in sectors such as renewable energy, agriculture, education, and migration.
Read also: EU Commission Hopes to Strengthen Economic Cooperation with Morocco
Morocco’s partnership with the European Union is rooted in multiple frameworks, including the European Neighborhood Policy, the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership, and the Union for the Mediterranean.
As an advanced-status partner, Morocco enjoys privileged political and economic cooperation with the EU, further reinforced through agreements like the 2000 Association Agreement and sectoral treaties on fisheries and aviation.
Despite strong ties, the partnership has faced challenges. Morocco’s 1987 bid for EU membership was rejected on geographical grounds, and recent European Court of Justice rulings invalidating agreements covering products from Western Sahara have sparked diplomatic tensions.
In October 2024, the EU Court annulled trade and fisheries agreements involving Western Sahara, citing a lack of consent from the region’s population.
The rulings followed a complaint by the Polisario Front and echoed similar judicial decisions in recent years. These legal challenges have complicated the bilateral relationship and raised concerns about the future trajectory of EU-Morocco cooperation.
