Morocco and France Strengthen Ties with Economic Deals

On Tuesday, October 29th, before both houses of Parliament, Emmanuel Macron confirmed a diplomatic shift by recognizing Morocco’s Autonomy Plan for the Southern Provinces, while tracing a rich historical retrospective. The Head of State’s speech marks a clear break with France’s more nuanced position of previous years.

It was a moment of rare intensity in the hemicycle of Parliament, this Tuesday, October 20, which preceded the arrival of the President of the French Republic. As the minutes passed, the wait grew heavy… Emmanuel Macron, draped in a suit of controlled sobriety, made a remarkable entrance welcomed by an audience of Moroccan deputies, ministers and officials.

The press room adjoining the assembly was teeming with journalists, reporters, photographers and cameramen who had come to immortalize this moment broadcast on a giant screen: all attention focused on the French Head of State whose words sealed what was announced as a historic turning point in relations between Morocco and France.

Emmanuel Macron began his speech with a striking historical retrospective, highlighting the key stages of the relationship

The president eloquently spoke of the fascination that the Kingdom has always aroused in the French collective imagination, emphasizing the strong cultural ties that unite the two nations. Macron did not, however, avoid the difficult moments of this relationship, in particular colonization, while recognizing the courage of certain French figures who supported the emancipation of Morocco.

He recalled the importance of the return of Sultan Mohammed V, a historic event that “allowed Morocco and France to overcome the scars left by the colonial episode.”

The president also paid a vibrant tribute to the Moroccans who contributed to the liberation of France and its reconstruction after the Second World War. He spoke with emotion of “the bravery and sacrifice” of the Moroccan riflemen, as well as the contribution of Moroccan workers to the industrialization of France after the war.

New chapter

This reminder of the sacrifices shared between the two countries was a strong moment of the speech, which bears witness to the contributions of the “community of destiny” which unites the two nations, called upon to take up, together, the challenges of the century.

Emmanuel Macron focused his speech on future prospects, calling for writing a “new book” on the Franco-Moroccan relationship. He praised Morocco’s modernization under King Mohammed VI, a ruler he described as “embodying the continuity of one of the oldest dynasties in the world and one of the faces of industrial and technological modernity.”

This new chapter in the relationship between the two countries must, according to Macron, be based on pillars such as education, the green economy and the energy transition. The French president also discussed the major challenges that Morocco and France must face together, in particular, that of the energy transition and the fight against global warming.

“There will be no future for our children if we fail to achieve the energy transition,” he said, calling for increased cooperation in this area.

Historic support for the Autonomy Plan

The most significant moment of this speech was undoubtedly Emmanuel Macron’s explicit recognition of the Moroccan Autonomy Plan concerning the southern provinces.

“For France, the present and future of this territory are part of Moroccan sovereignty,” he said, carefully weighed words intended to resonate in Rabat as well as in Paris.

Emmanuel Macron expressed his support for Morocco’s proposed 2007 Autonomy Plan, while insisting that this position is “not hostile to anyone.” This statement marks a clear break with France’s more nuanced position of previous years. It now places France alongside countries fully supporting the Moroccan initiative.

This highly symbolic gesture comes at a time when tensions over the Saharan issue persist. It is also part of Paris’ desire to strengthen its strategic partnerships in the Maghreb, in the face of changing dynamics in the region.

Finally, Emmanuel Macron praised Morocco’s role on the international scene, particularly as a stabilizer in the region. He highlighted the “strong and unique voice” that Morocco carries in the conflicts in the Middle East and the Sahel.

The President Emmanuel Macron paid tribute to Morocco’s diplomatic efforts to promote peace, while stressing the need for closer cooperation in the face of global challenges. The day before the speech, twenty-two strategic agreements were concluded between Morocco and France, strengthening a long-standing economic cooperation. These agreements, representing a total amount exceeding 100 billion dirhams, cover key sectors, illustrating a bilateral relationship in full reconfiguration.

Among the most notable, the agreement concluded between ONCF and Alstom for the acquisition of twelve high-speed trains, with an option for six additional ones, as part of the extension of the railway line to Marrakech, planned for 2030.

This agreement underlines the importance of the Franco-Moroccan partnership in the development of cutting-edge infrastructure. In the field of renewable energies, commitments have been made with Engie and EDF for the implementation of wind and solar projects, marking a crucial step in the shared ambitions of the two countries for the energy transition.

“Morocco has laid the framework that will soon allow it to become a major player in renewable energies, whether electrons or green hydrogen,” stressed Emmanuel Macron, thus consolidating the central role of the Kingdom in this dynamic.

TotalEnergies has also sealed a strategic partnership for the development of green hydrogen, in line with the national strategy aimed at consolidating its position as a regional leader in clean energy.

A historic agreement imminent between the Kingdom and France

During his speech before the Moroccan Parliament, Emmanuel Macron announced the establishment of a new strategic framework between France and Morocco, 70 years after the declaration of La Celle-Saint-Cloud of December 6, 1955.

This partnership will be formalized during the next state visit of King Mohammed VI to France. “The Kingdom of Morocco will thus be the only country outside the European Union to benefit from such a partnership,” said the French president, marking a new era in bilateral relations.

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(Featured image by Afker Moiz via Unsplash)

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First published in LES ECO.ma. A third-party contributor translated and adapted the article from the original. In case of discrepancy, the original will prevail.

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