- Fourteen Cooperation Agreements Signed as Rabat and Paris Reaffirm Commitment to Stronger Political, Economic and Security Ties
RABAT: Morocco and France reinforced their long-standing strategic partnership on Thursday as the 15th Morocco-France High-Level Meeting opened in Rabat, bringing together senior government officials from both countries to advance bilateral cooperation across a wide range of sectors.
The meeting was co-chaired by Moroccan Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch and French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, and reflects the renewed momentum in relations under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI and French President Emmanuel Macron.
A New Chapter in Morocco-France Relations
The high-level session follows the renewed political framework established during President Macron’s state visit to Morocco in October 2024, which marked a significant milestone in the strengthening of bilateral ties.
Addressing the opening session, Prime Minister Akhannouch described the meeting as the first concrete governmental implementation of the strategic vision outlined by the two Heads of State.
“The 15th Morocco-France High-Level Meeting constitutes the first concrete governmental implementation of the new political framework established by His Majesty King Mohammed VI and President Emmanuel Macron during the French President’s state visit to the Kingdom,” Akhannouch said.
He stressed that the meeting represents far more than the resumption of an institutional dialogue, describing it as the beginning of a new phase built on political trust, stronger economic cooperation and a shared vision for the future.
Shared Vision for Future Cooperation
Prime Minister Akhannouch emphasized that Morocco and France are committed to launching new strategic initiatives that serve the interests of both nations while strengthening their exceptional partnership.
French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu echoed that commitment, saying both governments had been entrusted with transforming the political vision of their leaders into practical cooperation.
“We have been entrusted with the mission of developing new projects and ensuring their implementation in the best interests of both our peoples, in the spirit of the exceptional partnership that binds us,” Lecornu said.
He added that preparations are also underway for the upcoming State Visit of His Majesty King Mohammed VI to France, expressing confidence that the visit would further consolidate bilateral relations and give fresh momentum to the strategic partnership.
Security Cooperation Remains a Key Priority
The French Prime Minister praised the close security cooperation between Morocco and France, particularly in addressing common regional and international challenges.
He highlighted the effective collaboration between the two countries in combating terrorism, drug trafficking, human trafficking and irregular migration, describing security cooperation as a cornerstone of the bilateral relationship.
“It is in the interest of our two peoples that we continue working together to strengthen our common security,” Lecornu said.
Fourteen Agreements Signed Across Key Sectors
The 15th High-Level Meeting concluded with the signing of 14 bilateral agreements and cooperation instruments, aimed at expanding collaboration in strategic sectors.
Among the key agreements signed were:
- A Letter of Intent on Cooperation in Feminist Foreign Policy.
- An Annex to the Technical Arrangement in Civil Aviation.
- A partnership agreement between France’s École Nationale Supérieure Maritime (ENSM) and Morocco’s Institut Supérieur d’Études Maritimes (ISEM).
- French Development Agency (AFD) financing agreements supporting the Rabat Regional Express Rail (RER) project and Morocco’s water policy initiatives.
Additional agreements covered education, culture, scientific research and institutional cooperation, including:
- A Declaration of Intent on the teaching of Arabic language and history-geography within the French education system.
- A Strategic Partnership Agreement between the Arab World Institute and Morocco’s Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication.
- A Framework Agreement on Scientific Cooperation between CIRAD and the Agronomic and Veterinary Institute Hassan II (IAV).
- France Reaffirms Support for Morocco’s Sovereignty Over the Sahara
During the meeting, Prime Minister Lecornu reaffirmed France’s unwavering position in support of Morocco’s sovereignty over its Sahara.
“This position, I repeat here, is intangible,” he stated.
His remarks reaffirm France’s official position announced by President Emmanuel Macron, who declared during his message to His Majesty King Mohammed VI that the present and future of the Sahara lie within the framework of Morocco’s sovereignty.
The reaffirmation underscores the growing strategic alignment between Rabat and Paris on issues of mutual importance and reflects the strengthened political partnership between the two countries.
A Strategic Partnership Entering a New Era
The 15th Morocco-France High-Level Meeting marked another significant milestone in the evolution of relations between Rabat and Paris, demonstrating both countries’ determination to translate political commitments into concrete initiatives.
With expanded cooperation in infrastructure, security, education, culture, scientific research and sustainable development, Morocco and France have reaffirmed their shared ambition to build a comprehensive strategic partnership that serves the long-term interests of both nations and contributes to regional stability and prosperity.
BY: The Times Union
