During a joint press conference, following this bilateral meeting, Mr. Bourita emphasized the important place of the EU as a strategic partner and first choice of the Kingdom. "It is a partnership of neighborhood, values and interests," he said, stressing that the convergence between Moroccan national priorities and European priorities, makes it easier to develop this partnership in programs and concrete projects.

"We will work to concretize the Green Partnership, signed last year to finalize and advance on the digital partnership and other projects, including that of education and training, as well as all areas at the heart of the relationship between Morocco and the EU," said the Minister.

This partnership, "which needs to be nurtured and enriched," is "a partnership of geographical proximity, shared values and converging interests, and it is around these three parameters that Morocco will continue to work with the EU," said Mr. Bourita.

The "harassment and multiple media attacks" targeting the Morocco-EU partnership "emanate from persons and structures disturbed by this Morocco which is liberating itself, this Morocco which strengthens its protagonism, this Morocco which projects itself unabashedly in its African and Arab geopolitical environment", said Mr. Bourita. He added that These attacks within the European institutions are directed and are the result of calculations and a desire to harm the Morocco-EU partnership.

For his part, the head of the European diplomacy stated: "We, the EU and Morocco, are building a strong and strategic partnership based on joint and concrete actions", stressing that the Kingdom, "one of the most dynamic and closest partners of the EU", plays a leading role in the Mediterranean area and in the implementation of the new agenda for the Mediterranean. "Without doubt, the Kingdom of Morocco is the southern Mediterranean partner that has implemented the most powerful convergence policies with the EU," he said.

He also emphasized the willingness of the EU to further promote EU investment in Morocco, to support Moroccan youth, to strengthen the long-standing partnership in the management of migration and to expand the scope of its partnership with the Kingdom to new areas, such as digital, adding that the EU and Morocco can face the challenges together in a coordinated and responsible way.

Mr. Borrell, also hailed the important role of Morocco in peace and stability in the region. He said that these exchanges focused on "old and new geopolitical challenges" that Morocco and the EU must face, as well as the various issues relating to the regional neighborhood and the international scene, including "the Maghreb, Libya, the Sahel, Iran and the Russia-Ukraine war’’. Moreover, the head of European diplomacy particularly thanked Morocco for the important role it plays for the stability of Libya.

Mr. Borrell also announced the launch of new initiatives to further strengthen the Morocco-EU partnership, citing in particular in this context the high-level dialogue on security to be held soon in Rabat.

He also reiterated the EU's commitment to support Morocco in the important structural reforms launched under the enlightened vision of HM King Mohammed VI. Welcoming the willingness of the Sovereign to allow Morocco to move forward, the head of European diplomacy, stressed the importance of "building a more ambitious vision for the Morocco-EU partnership".

He said, in this context, that it is necessary to concretize the commitments made in particular in the areas of the fight against climate change and energy transition, but also in social protection, health and education.

"We have many topics to explore to deepen our partnership," he concluded, stressing the imperative to capitalize on common achievements to "look towards a more friendly future”.

Furthermore, Mr. Borrell reiterated the position of the EU on the issue of the Moroccan Sahara valuing very much the "serious and credible" efforts made by Morocco to find a solution to this regional dispute.

"We have taken note and we value very much the serious and credible efforts made by Morocco to this end (finding a solution to the Moroccan Sahara issue)," Mr. Borrell told the press, adding that "the EU supports the UN process and the initiatives of the Personal Envoy of its Secretary-General to achieve a political solution that is fair, realistic, pragmatic, sustainable and mutually acceptable and based on compromise, in accordance with the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council".

Mr. Borrell also said that "the EU encourages all parties to continue their commitment in the spirit of realism and compromise in the context of an arrangement consistent with the purposes and principles set out in the UN Charter”. The head of European diplomacy added that he understands the fundamental importance of the Sahara issue, an "existential question" for the Kingdom.