In Rabat, Sánchez stresses that bilateral relations between Spain and Morocco are at their best moment in decades

Royal Palace, Rabat (Morocco)

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, has made an official trip to Morocco on Wednesday, accompanied by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, during which he held a meeting with His Majesty King Mohammed VI and the head of the Government of the Kingdom of Morocco, Aziz Akhannouch.

This is the fifth trip that the president of the Government of Spain has made to Morocco and comes at a time when bilateral relations with this neighbouring country, friend and strategic partner, are at their best moment in decades, as the leaders of both governments have agreed.

Pedro Sánchez has shown his determination to continue with the Roadmap adopted in 2022, which opened a new page in relations between the Kingdom of Spain and the Kingdom of Morocco, and which has resulted in political momentum at the highest level. The High Level Meeting (HLM) held in 2023 was a historic milestone with the signing of 24 agreements and a Joint Declaration addressing all dimensions of the bilateral relationship between the two countries.

In this regard, the president of the Government of Spain highlighted the positive evolution of the increase in investments in both directions and trade exchanges, which exceeded 20 billion euros for the first time in 2022. He also highlighted the fact that Spain is Morocco's leading trading partner and emphasised the active participation of many Spanish companies in large-scale projects in the country, in areas such as transport infrastructure, renewable energies and the management of water resources.

On migration, Pedro Sánchez stressed that "Spain and Morocco have established exemplary cooperation and that our governments continue to work in areas such as circular migration with pioneering programmes at a European level". He also highlighted the security work that both countries are carrying out in the fight against terrorism, irregular migration and human trafficking networks "which cause thousands of victims in our seas every year".

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, and the President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, during the meeting they held with the Head of Government of the Kingdom of Morocco, Aziz Akhannouch | Pool Moncloa/Borja Puig de la Bellacasa

The president of the Government of Spain highlighted, among other common projects, the joint organisation of the 2030 Football World Cup between Spain, Morocco and Portugal as "a great opportunity to further strengthen our ties of friendship". With the Moroccan Head of Government, he also discussed the status of the various projects underway in education and cultural cooperation, which were promoted during last year's HLM.

In this context, the president of the Government of Spain has advocated furthering work in other areas without interruption, such as customs normalisation, an essential part of this new bilateral agenda. In this context, Pedro Sánchez defended the fact that the necessary tests were successfully completed in 2023 and that "on the Spanish side, everything is ready to begin regular customs operations in Ceuta and Melilla", he remarked. He also insisted that the ultimate aim is to "promote transparent and regular trade".

During the meetings held by the president of the Government of Spain throughout the day with His Majesty King Mohammed VI and the head of the Government of Morocco, international issues such as the Sahara question and the critical situation in Gaza, among others, were discussed.

In this regard, Pedro Sánchez reiterated to both that "Spain's position on the Sahara issue has not changed", as reflected in the Joint Declaration adopted in 2022 and in the Morocco-Spain HLM Declaration of 2023.

On the Middle East conflict, both shared concerns about the dire situation in Gaza. The president of the Government of Spain insisted, once again, that "it is imperative to reach a permanent ceasefire and the release of all hostages", at the same time that "we must guarantee access for humanitarian aid", and has emphasised the indispensable work of UNWRA. He also argued that progress should be made "without pause in order to implement the two-state solution". In this regard, Morocco has highly valued the courageous position that the Government of Spain has maintained from the outset in this crisis.

Non official translation