Morocco Expects EU to Prove Commitment to Partnership with Deeds, not Words, Says FM

“The Kingdom of Morocco expects the European Union (EU) to prove its commitment to partnership through deeds, not words”,  Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates Nasser Bourita said in Rabat on Monday. Speaking at a press briefing following his meeting with the European Commissioner for Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi, Bourita stressed that the European official’s visit comes at a time when the partnership between Morocco and the European Union “is at a pivotal stage” that requires proof of the EU’s commitment to this partnership through deeds, not words. It is time to confirm that declarations made in Brussels and other European capitals on the importance of this partnership are implemented on the field, he added In this respect, Bourita pointed out that the EU must “cement its partnership with Morocco and defend it against blackmail and legal and economic harassment”, noting that “Morocco expects to see the EU’s response to these provocations, through measures and policies to be undertaken in this context. He noted the existence of “actions which effectively contradict the EU’s commitment to the partnership with Morocco”, adding that the Kingdom “awaits proposals and practical measures capable of addressing questions and challenges facing this partnership”. The Minister pointed out that “the ball is now in the EU’s court to find solutions”, recalling that Morocco’s position is clear and is rooted in the Royal Speech on the occasion of the anniversary of the Green March, in which HM King Mohammed VI affirmed that “Morocco’s partnerships and legal obligations will never be at the expense of its territorial integrity or its national sovereignty”. He stressed that the Kingdom’s commitment to its partnership and relationship with the European Union “will not come at any price”, asserting that “for Morocco, there can be no compromise, under any circumstances, at the expense of the red lines” defined by the Kingdom. “As much as Morocco is attached to this partnership, it expects a concrete commitment from the European Union to translate it into reality”, Bourita stated. He concluded by saying that Morocco looks forward to seeing “tangible proof of this partnership in the weeks and months ahead”.