Morocco, Spain Committed to Preserving, Consolidating Morocco-EU Relationship – Joint Statement –

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Morocco and Spain stressed, Thursday in Rabat, their commitment to the preservation and consolidation of the Morocco-European Union (EU) relationship. In the Joint Statement issued at the end of the 12th session of the Morocco-Spain High Level Meeting held Thursday in Rabat, under the joint chairmanship of the Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch and the President of the Spanish Government Pedro Sanchez, the two countries also stressed their willingness to further develop the Advanced Status of Morocco with the EU, the next Association Council being an important opportunity in this sense. Furthermore, Spain and Morocco will actively collaborate in promoting the flagship initiatives of the Economic and Investment Plan for the Southern Neighborhood of the European Union, in particular in co-financing the investments planned by the Moroccan Strategic Investment Fund in the support and acceleration of the green transition, in developing social protection systems for the most vulnerable groups, in Morocco’s participation in the Horizon Europe research program and in financing its digital infrastructure, in developing renewable energies, and in the Moroccan “Green Generation” initiative for the development of rural areas. In the same vein, both countries welcome the signing by Morocco and the EU of the MoU of a “Green Partnership” with the goal of strengthening cooperation in energy, the fight against climate change, environmental protection and stimulate the “green economy”. Spain and Morocco will also continue to work closely together to develop cooperation between the Council of Europe and Morocco, with the central goal of bringing Moroccan standards to European standards in all areas. Furthermore, Morocco stresses the importance it attaches to the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the European Union during the second half of 2023, especially for the deepening of Morocco’s privileged relations with the European Union and for the strengthening of Euro-Mediterranean, Euro-Arab and Euro-African relations.