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Rabat – Deputy of the French National Assembly for the Meurthe-et-Moselle district, Laurent Garcia, urged the European Union to “preserve and enrich” its partnership with Morocco in a statement on June 9.
Garcia said the statement in a meeting with the Consul General of Morocco, Driss El Kaissi.
“Morocco is a historical partner of the European Union,” the French deputy argued, calling both parties to “consolidate this partnership, to preserve and enrich it.”
The French official urged Morocco and Spain to overcome the “bilateral crisis through constructive dialogue and diplomatic channels in the interest of both neighboring countries.”
“My father is a Spanish immigrant and I have many Moroccan friends. We have to work to solve this diplomatic crisis in the interest of us all,” he noted.
Garcia also stressed the role of the European Union in mediating between both countries that face massive immigration on both sides of the Mediterranean.
Garcia’s comments came weeks after the Spanish media allegedly accused Morocco of intentionally provoking the Ceuta migration crisis.
Morocco responded to these claims in a statement published on May 31, emphasizing that the diplomatic crisis with Spain had nothing to do with migration.
Read Also: Timeline of Broken Trust Between Morocco and Spain Over Brahim Ghali
In a press release published May 8, Morocco’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated: “Preserving bilateral partnership is a shared responsibility, nourished by an ongoing commitment to safeguarding mutual trust, maintaining fruitful cooperation, and protecting the strategic interests of both countries.”
Despite Spain’s efforts to Europeanize the crisis, Morocco has maintained the position that the dispute with Spain is “strictly bilateral,” hoping to maintain “fundamental and strategic” relations with the EU.
France, meanwhile, has shown good intentions in trying to calm tensions between Morocco and Spain. According to reports, French foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian held talks with his Moroccan and Spanish counterparts to monitor the tensions between Rabat and Madrid.
