HM King Mohammed VI, President Emmanuel Macron Sign in Rabat Declaration on ‘Reinforced Exceptional Partnership’ Between Morocco and France

Rabat - His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist Him, accompanied by HRH Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan and HRH Prince Moulay Rachid, and His Excellency Mr. Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic, signed, Monday at the Royal Office in Rabat, the Declaration on “the reinforced exceptional partnership” between the Kingdom of Morocco and the French Republic, aimed at enabling the two countries to better address shared challenges by mobilizing all relevant sectors of bilateral, regional and international cooperation.

Here is the full text of this Declaration:

“1. His Majesty Mohammed VI, King of Morocco, and Mr. Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic, decided, on the occasion of his State visit to Morocco on October 28-30, 2024, to write a new chapter in the long history between France and Morocco, by elevating their bilateral ties to the level of a “reinforced exceptional partnership.”

2. The two Heads of State expressed their shared ambition for this partnership between France and Morocco to embody:

- the profound relations between the two countries, which are rooted in history and exceptionally rich human and cultural ties and which have underpinned their friendship and cooperation for several decades;

- their mutual commitment to build on the achievements and partnership's synergies to irreversibly propel it towards a new phase, in strategic sectors that respond to the transformations of the two countries and the shifting dynamics of the regional and international landscape;

- their wish to establish a comprehensive, stable, and sustainable strategic framework for French-Moroccan relations, through a robust and forward-looking partnership, supported at the highest levels of both States, engaging all their components, and implemented in a concrete, dynamic, and innovative way to fulfill the aspirations of present and future generations.

- their resolve to act as strategic partners in all areas, notably political dialogue, economic partnership and human exchanges;

- their recognition of the valuable contribution of local authorities, representative institutions, economic operators, youth and civil society, as well as Moroccan expatriates in France and French expatriates in Morocco, and their commitment to further reinforcing their contribution to the partnership;

- their commitment to ensuring that this "reinforced exceptional partnership" enables Morocco and France to better address shared challenges by mobilizing all relevant sectors of bilateral, regional and international cooperation.

3. The two Heads of State also reaffirmed that their countries’ joint action, both bilaterally and internationally, would continue to rest on the following principles: State-to-State relation, sovereign equality, non-interference in internal affairs and foreign policy decisions, respect for commitments, trust, transparency, early consultation, solidarity, and responsibility of each towards the other.

4. They emphasized their commitment to directing the “reinforced exceptional partnership” toward three major goals:

- consolidating political and strategic convergence between Morocco and France to enable them to better jointly face today’s major challenges;

- deepening and modernizing their partnership to promote economic development, social cohesion and their strategic autonomy;

- further strengthening their privileged cooperation in human ties, human capital and culture, rooted in a Francophonie of values and openness.

5 - They particularly identified several strategic sectors that may be the subject of intensified attention and increased efforts : health safety and vaccine production ; water and water resources management ; agriculture ; forest management and food security ; road, railway and maritime infrastructure development and urban mobility ; connectivity, energy transition, and renewables ; artificial intelligence ; security and defense cooperation ; education, scientific research and university education cooperation ; cultural cooperation, mainly in cultural, creative and heritage industries ; cooperation in sports and major events’ organization, following the 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games and in preparation for the 2030 Football World Cup.

The two Heads of State welcome the ambitious cooperation that they have established and strengthened in migration and call for building a comprehensive agenda in this regard, including facilitating legal mobility, fighting irregular immigration and promoting cooperation in readmission and prevention of departures, as well as strengthening coordination between the countries of origin, transit and destination, based on the shared responsibility principle.

Regionally, the two Heads of State stressed the central importance, in their bilateral strategic dialogue, of Africa and the Atlantic, the Euro-Mediterranean ties and the Near and Middle East. They agreed to enhance their dialogue to advance common initiatives, aimed at jointly contributin, alongside the concerned countries, to the security, stability, and development of these regions. The President of the Republic commends the important actions led by His Majesty the King for Africa’s stability and development, and the Royal Initiatives launched in this regard. His Majesty the King closely follows France’s important efforts to renew the partnership between France, Europe and African countries and to adapt it to the 21st century challenges in a spirit of respect and mutual interests.

Internationally, the two Heads of State strongly affirmed their commitment to jointly contributing to resolve the crises faced by the international community, whether to address the exacerbation of conflictuality and the weakened rule of law or to better protect global public goods (climate, environment, biodiversity, oceans), particularly in Africa and the Euro-Mediterranean area.

6- The two Heads of State agreed to directly oversee the “reinforced exceptional partnership” between Morocco and France. They will determine its priorities and give the necessary impetus for its full implementation. They will regularly follow, including by meeting when required, the progress of the “reinforced exceptional partnership”. They agreed to designate a restricted, parity strategic monitoring committee, tasked with developing any proposal that would further consolidate the “reinforced exceptional partnership”. The committee will complement, but not replace, existing bilateral cooperation steering bodies.

7- The two Heads of State stressed that the “reinforced exceptional partnership” between Morocco and France had been intended to be implemented in the widest possible territorial scope, in light of the French position expressed on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of His Majesty's accession to the Throne, in which the President emphasized: “I consider that the present and future of Western Sahara lie within the framework of Moroccan sovereignty [...] For France, autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty is the framework within which this issue shall be resolved. Our support for the autonomy plan proposed by Morocco in 2007 is clear and unwavering. For France, this constitutes now the only basis to achieve a just, lasting, and negotiated political solution, in accordance with United Nations Security Council resolutions.”

The President of the Republic particularly reaffirmed his commitment that France will further support Morocco’s efforts to promote the region’s economic and social development, for the benefit of the local populations.

At the closing of the signing ceremony, HM the King gifted a present to His illustrious guest.

The signing ceremony of the Declaration on the “Reinforced Exceptional Partnership” between Morocco and France was attended, on the Moroccan side, by Fouad Ali El Himma, HM the King’s Advisor, Nasser Bourita, Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, and Samira Sitaïl, HM the King’s Ambassador to France, and on the French side, by Emmanuel Bonne, Diplomatic Advisor to the President of the Republic, Jean-Noël Barrot, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, and Christophe Lecourtier, France’s Ambassador to Morocco.”