WB/IMF Meetings: Akhannouch Holds Talks with EC’s Executive Vice-President

Head of Government, Aziz Akhannouch, held talks with the Executive Vice-President of the European Commission, Valdis Dombrovskis, on Friday in Marrakech, on the sidelines of the 2023 Annual Meetings of the World Bank Group (WB) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The meeting took place in the presence of the European Commissioner for Economy, Paolo Gentiloni, the Minister of Economy and Finance, Nadia Fettah, and the Minister Delegate in charge of the Budget, Fouzi Lekjaa. On this occasion, the European officials commended Morocco for its exemplary handling of the consequences of the Al Haouz earthquake and praised the impeccable organization of the WB/IMF Annual Meetings. They also extended their congratulations to Morocco for its selection to co-host the 2030 World Cup, alongside Spain and Portugal. In a press statement following the discussions, Dombrovskis emphasized that the EU continues to be a “reliable” and “committed” partner to the Kingdom, reiterating the European bloc’s determination to further enhance bilateral cooperation across various partnership areas. The meeting also provided an opportunity to explore the complementary nature of the two parties’ economies, particularly in the fields of energy and trade, he added, underscoring the EU’s position as the Kingdom’s primary trading partner. Gentiloni, on the other hand, highlighted that the collaboration between Morocco and the EU has the potential to foster economic and cultural development. He stressed that this meeting was a chance to underscore the significance of the strategic relationship between the Union and Morocco and to highlight the strong bonds of trust and cooperation uniting Europe and the Kingdom. He acknowledged that the WB and IMF Annual Meetings in Morocco took place at a challenging geopolitical juncture, just weeks after the Al Haouz earthquake, underlining that the Kingdom “should take pride in the successful organization of this major event”. The meeting also served as an opportunity to explore ways of furthering the strategic partnership between Morocco and the EU, strengthening economic cooperation ties, particularly in the field of renewable energies, and increasing trade exchanges.