During aworking visit to Morocco, (01-03 March), the European Commissioner for Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement, Olivér VÁRHELYI, said at a press briefing held after his talks with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, that “Morocco is a flagship country and a pillar of stability in the region”, stressing the “extreme importance” of the Morocco-EU partnership.On this occasion, the European Commissioner announcedthat the signing, on Thursday 02 March, by Morocco and the EU of five cooperation programs worth nearly €500 million (5.5 billion MDH) to support major reform projects in the Kingdom, reflects the “direct and serious” commitment from the Union to Morocco.
“With all our commitments, we are really changing the nature and depth of our cooperation,” he said, adding that the reforms launched in Morocco are ambitious reforms close to European values.

Morocco is and will be a major beneficiary of the EU’s project agenda for the entire region, said VÁRHELYI, adding that this financial support covers social, economic, agricultural, water and energy aspects, the latter being a crucial sector worldwide.

He also stressed the importance of other areas of cooperation between the Kingdom and the EU, including migration and the fight against criminal networks.

The European Commissioner took the opportunity of the news conference to congratulate Morocco for its exit from the “gray” list of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), praising the Moroccan-European cooperation that has allowed achieving this result.

The visit to Morocco of the European Commissioner for Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement, confirms the depth, strength and solidity of relations between the Kingdom of Morocco and the European Union though the multiple attempts of some isolated European parties trying to tarnish the Morocco-EU relationship.