European Commissioner for the Mediterranean Dubravka Šuica said Thursday in Rabat that Morocco is a special partner of the European Union (EU).
Speaking after talks with Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates Bourita ahead of the High-Level Retreat on the Future of Euro-Mediterranean Relations, Šuica noted that the Kingdom is a “model” to follow in the region.
The meeting was an opportunity to highlight Morocco's historic and structuring role as a key player in the Mediterranean region.
In this regard, the European Commissioner stated during a joint press briefing with Bourita that the relationship between the two parties is “special” and must be deepened in various areas, welcoming the Kingdom's “highly advanced partnership” with the European Union, particularly in migration management and the fight against terrorism and organized crime.
She also praised Morocco's “remarkable” efforts in decarbonization and green transition. “We welcome Morocco's leading role in strengthening Euro-Mediterranean cooperation,” she continued, describing the Kingdom as a key “strategic partner” for the EU.
“Our partnership with Morocco, a vital bridge for cooperation with Africa, is unique and extremely multidimensional,” Šuica emphasized, noting that this ambitious bilateral cooperation paves the way for deepening the Euromed partnership in the future, so as to meet the mutual needs of Europe and the MENA region.
The European Commissioner indicated, in the same vein, that since the beginning of her term, the EU has been working on “a new pact for the Mediterranean,” developed through a participatory approach with the 27 European countries and partner countries on the Southern shore.
This new framework will be officially enacted in November, on the 30th anniversary of the Barcelona Declaration and the creation of the Barcelona Process.
“Our ambition is very clear. We want to lay the foundations for a common area of prosperity, peace, stability, and security,” Šuica affirmed on this subject during her speech at the High-Level Retreat on the Future of Euro-Mediterranean Relations.
This new pact was preceded by extensive consultations with all concerned partners, the European official said, noting that this Retreat, hosted by Morocco, is likely to contribute substantially to this new Euro-Mediterranean pact.
Based on an evolutionary process, she detailed, this instrument strives to be a powerful lever for stability and growth, through three main pillars: to place people at the center of action, to promote the full potential of the region's economies, and to strengthen cooperation on security, resilience, and migration.
MAP: 11 September 2025
