Spain and Morocco highlight their excellent bilateral relations

With a view to the upcoming high-level meeting which, on this occasion, will be hosted by Morocco, the two delegations reviewed the excellent bilateral relations, which include intense political dialogue and model cooperation on the issue of migration and security. The two ministers reviewed economic relations and expressed their satisfaction at the trade figures between the two countries, which have doubled over the last six years and that Spain has consolidated its position at Morocco's leading trading partner.

The two ministers also reiterated their intention to continue extending the strategic partnership between the European Union and Morocco by developing the Advanced Status of Morocco and, in this regard, welcomed the joint Morocco-EU statement on 7 February.

They also discussed the latest developments on the international stage, including the situation in the EU, the crises in Libya, Syria and the Israel-Palestine conflict and the Western Sahara.

Minister Dastis took stock of the two years (2015-2016) in which Spain was a member of the United States Security Council. Alfonso Dastis congratulated his counterpart on the success of COP-22, of which it holds the rotating presidency, and on Morocco's return to the African Union. Among areas of interest in widening their bilateral relations, they agreed to explore the possibilities of undertaking joint cooperation projects in Africa.