Policy paper

Fourth session of the Moroccan-UK Strategic Dialogue and second session of the Association Council of the UK-Morocco Association Agreement: joint declaration (Rabat, May 9, 2023)

Published 11 May 2023

1. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Mr Nasser Bourita received the Minister of State for the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia and the United Nations of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, in Rabat on the 9th May, 2023. Mr Bourita and Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon co-chaired, on this occasion, the 4th session of the Morocco-UK Strategic Dialogue.

2. The 2 Ministers welcomed the excellent relations between Morocco and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UK) and reaffirmed their shared willingness to further strengthen their strategic partnership which is supported by the longstanding friendship and mutual esteem uniting the 2 Royal families.

3. The 2 Ministers warmly recalled the history of the friendly and mutually beneficial relationship between the 2 countries, which dates back to at least 1213. They also recalled the first commercial treaty between the 2 countries, concluded in Fez on 23 January 1721 and welcomed the ambitious shared agenda on trade and investment agreed at the 2nd UK-Morocco Association Council, co-chaired by Minister of Industry and Trade, Mr Ryad Mezzour, and Minister of International Trade Mr Nigel Huddleston in Rabat in February.

4. Both Ministers stressed the importance of the strategic partnership for regional stability and development. The UK welcomed, and is supporting, the major reforms carried out by Morocco, under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, and reflecting Morocco’s New Development Model (2021 to 2035), for a more open and dynamic Moroccan society and economy, including on human rights.

I. Political/diplomatic pillar

5. The 2 Ministers had constructive and fruitful discussions, reflecting this new phase and the new prospects in the relations between the Kingdom of Morocco and the United Kingdom (UK), based on mutual respect and trust, and they affirmed their willingness to deepen their dialogue and cooperation on bilateral, regional and international issues of common interest, and major strategic challenges.

6. The UK welcomed the resumption and steady development of relations between Morocco and Israel. Both sides emphasised the potential of relations with Israel for peace, security and prosperity in the region. Both sides also confirmed their commitment to the two-State solution, leading to a safe and secure Israel living alongside a sovereign and viable Palestinian state, based on 1967 borders with Jerusalem as a shared capital.

7. On the Western Sahara issue, the UK reaffirmed its commitment to assist the parties to achieve a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution to the question of Western Sahara based on compromise, in the context of arrangements consistent with the principles and purposes of the Charter of the United Nations. The UK reiterated its long-standing position on Western Sahara in support of the UN resolutions and the importance of principles, including self-determination.

8. The UK emphasised the exclusive role of the UN in facilitating the political process to resolve this dispute and reaffirmed its support for UNSC Resolution 2654, which noted the role and responsibilities of the parties and calls for the resumption of the safe and regular resupply of MINURSO team sites to ensure the sustainability of the Mission’s presence. The UK recognised Morocco’s serious efforts to move the process forward towards resolution.

9. The UK and Morocco reaffirmed their full support for the efforts of the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy, Mr Staffan de Mistura, to find a solution to this dispute. The 2 Ministers looked forward to PESG Staffan de Mistura’s next visit to the region at the earliest opportunity, including to meet all stakeholders necessary, with freedom of access, in order to fulfil his mandate and in line with UN principles.

10. The UK regards Morocco, under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, as a credible and trusted regional and international partner that plays a key role in promoting stability, peace and development in the Mediterranean, Sahel-Saharan and West African regions.

12. With regard to Libya, Morocco and the UK reaffirmed their willingness to work together for a lasting and inclusive political solution, based on the Libyan Political Agreement of 2015 at Skhirat, and under the auspices of the United Nations. In this regard, the UK welcomes the constructive role and credible efforts made by Morocco to resolve this issue, including the inter-Libyan dialogue hosted in Bouznika in September and October 2020, and in Tangier in November 2020, which contributed to the agreement on the mechanisms for the appointment sovereign posts in Libya.

13. The Ministers recalled that UN Security Council Resolution 2570 underscored the central role of the United Nations in facilitating a Libyan-led and Libyan-owned inclusive political process and recalled the need to end parallel efforts outside of UN auspices. Ministers reaffirmed the need for momentum to secure the legal basis and political agreement needed to hold free, fair and inclusive Parliamentary and Presidential elections by the end of the year.

14. Both countries reaffirmed their strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and national unity of Libya.

15. Morocco and the UK expressed their concern about security threats in the Sahel region. Both countries consider that the fight against violent extremism and radicalism in the Sahel requires, alongside the security dimension, the reinforcement of tangible actions for economic, human, cultural and institutional development. Morocco and the UK condemned the destabilising policy and actions of Iran and its proxies, including its support for terrorism and armed non-state actors, as well as the use and supply of sophisticated weapons, drones and cybercrime, particularly in the Middle East, North Africa and the Sahel, and their wider proliferation.

16. The UK and Morocco reaffirmed their commitment in supporting Ukraine’s calls for a just and lasting peace that, in line with the principles of the UN Charter, maintains Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders, as evidenced by their shared support for United Nations General Assembly Resolution A/ES-11/L.7

17. In the field of migration, Morocco and the UK share a joint commitment to a concerted approach and a shared responsibility between countries of origin, transit and destination to manage all issues related to the management of migratory flows, including facilitating returns, and the fight against terrorism, transnational organised crime and climate change. They encourage all stakeholders to promote balanced and equitable shared actions in this regard.

18. The 2 Ministers discussed the opportunity to reinforce our already excellent security cooperation in exploring ways and means to address joint and global migration issues. 10. Given the growing number of Moroccan visitors in both directions, the 2 Ministers agreed on the need to further promote travel between our respective countries, while maintaining the integrity of their borders.

19. The 2 countries agreed to continue to develop contacts between officials in the fields of consular, social and judicial cooperation in order to give a new dynamic to exchanges between the Kingdom of Morocco and the United Kingdom.

20. Looking ahead to the 28th Conference of the Parties on climate change, to be in held in the United Arab Emirates in November 2023, the 2 countries reiterated their commitments to the Paris Accord and the Glasgow Climate Pact, to keep the goal of 1.5C alive, and stressed the importance of mobilising more public and private funds in this area including through innovative finance to mobilise green capital at scale, such as their joint work to structure and issue Africa’s first corporate clean mobility green bond in 2022.

21. The Ministers welcomed the operationalisation of Morocco’s Mohammed VI Fund for Investment as the main vehicle to deliver strategic clean infrastructure investments, noting the UK’s early support to ensure sustainability at the core of its mandate.

22. The Ministers further welcomed their signing, today, of the UK-Morocco Strategic Framework for Cooperation on Climate Action, Clean Energy and Green Growth, encompassing a wide range of current joint work and through which they look forward to deepening technical, financial and commercial collaboration and consultation.

23. The Ministers agreed on the potential for international projects to provide clean, affordable and secure power. For example, the UK Government is interested - without commitment - in the XLinks project, a proposed large scale onshore wind, solar and battery electricity generation site in Morocco, that would exclusively supply power to the GB grid via high voltage direct current subsea cables.

24. Reflecting Morocco’s regional leadership on renewable energy, both encouraged cooperation between stakeholders from both countries in this strategic sector. The UK confirmed further technical and financial support to Morocco’s low carbon transition, including through the COP Energy Transition Council and its Rapid Response Facility (RRF), as well as the new Zero Emissions Vehicles RRF. As co-chairs of the Power Breakthrough and signatories to the Breakthrough Agendas on Agriculture, Road transport, Hydrogen and Steel, both committed to encourage greater country-country collaboration to reduce global emissions by 2030, The UK also affirmed its support to Morocco’s Presidency of the 6th UN Environment Assembly in 2024.

25. The UK looked forward to the Kingdom of Morocco’s participation in the 2024 UK-Africa Investment Summit in the UK on 23 to 24 April 2024. Both countries will work together to inject a renewed impetus in strategic UK-Africa relations. Morocco welcomed the UK being the first non-African member to sign an MoU with the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (ACFTA). Both Ministers highlighted food security as a key priority as discussed at the recent Dakar 2 Summit, and noted Morocco’s own Green Generation strategy (2020 to 2030). Morocco also welcomed the UK’s support to the $30 billion of financing from the World Bank and $1.5 billion from African Development Bank, set up to address the increased food security risks across the continent, and the £200 million the UK has provided for the African Development Bank’s Climate Window, to help to strengthen the resilience of Africa’s food systems.

26. The Kingdom of Morocco also welcomed the successful presence of the UK, as the Guest of Honour at the 15th edition of the Salon International de l’Agriculture au Maroc (SIAM) in Meknes from the 2nd to the 7th of May 2023, reflecting the 2 countries’ shared commitment to supporting sustainable agriculture and food security in Africa, and the great importance of agricultural trade between the UK and Morocco. HE Lord Benyon, UK Minister of State for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) attended at the invitation of host HE Minister Mohammed Sadiki, and was accompanied by UK Trade Commissioner for Africa, Mr John Humphrey, and 30 UK businesses.

27. On the subject of cooperation in the field of human rights, the 2 Ministers welcomed the holding, on 1 December 2022 in London, of the first Informal Dialogue on Human Rights, during which the 2 countries exchanged views on a range of common issues and interests including the economic empowerment of women, media freedom and judicial reforms and explored areas in which to further strengthen practical cooperation.

28. In this context the United Kingdom congratulated the Kingdom of Morocco on its accession to a 3rd term at the United Nation’s Human Rights Council (2023 to 2025), during which the 2 countries looked forward to continuing to strengthen their cooperation in accordance with their respective priorities.

29. Both countries also underlined their support for the Chemical Weapons Convention, and welcomed the recent OPCW report on the Douma chemical weapons attack in Syria in 2018.  They stressed that the use of chemical weapons cannot go unchallenged anywhere in the world, and expressed their firm belief that those responsible for using these weapons must be held accountable for their actions. Both countries looked forward to the Chemical Weapons Convention’s Fifth Review Conference to ensure the OPCW maintains its mission of moving towards a world free of chemical weapons.

30. The 2 Ministers expressed their satisfaction with the level of parliamentary cooperation between the 2 countries in recent years.

31. The 2 Ministers noted the convergence of views on regional and international issues of common interest and agreed to continue their concertation within international and multilateral fora.

II. Security pillar

32. Ministers welcomed the holding on 30 November 2022 of a new session of the Security Working Group of the Morocco-UK Strategic Dialogue, which was an opportunity to further strengthen dialogue in security related areas of cooperation.

33. Both sides welcomed the shared willingness and commitment of all departments to deepen cooperation in the security field, with a view to addressing global security threats, including the fight against terrorism, organised crime, aviation, maritime and border security and cyber security, as well as the return and rehabilitation of foreign terrorist fighters.

34. Both sides called for more resolute international action to address terrorism and violent extremism in all its forms including in tackling the evolving threats in Africa, The UK welcomed Morocco’s multidimensional approach as well as its strategy for the rehabilitation and reintegration of detained terrorists.

35. The United Kingdom commended the Kingdom of Morocco’s leadership and commitment to regional peace and security, notably through its co-chairmanship of the Global Counter-Terrorism Forum (GCTF), as well as the Africa Focus Group (AFFG) of the Global Coalition against Daesh.

36. In this regard, both countries welcomed the outcome of the AFFG’s plenary meeting, which took place on 1 and 2 March 2023 in Niamey, and which provided an opportunity to reiterate the Coalition’s commitment to the eradication of the Daesh/ISIS threat in Africa, a threat accentuated by the proliferation of private military groups and separatist movements on the continent. The UK also welcomed the substantial contribution and the key role of the UNOCT Programme Office in Rabat in building capacity in the fight against terrorism in Africa.

37. Both sides welcomed the deepening bilateral cooperation to protect each other’s borders and citizens, and to tackle the transnational threat of serious organised crime. Significant successes include UK support to the work of a tri-national, multi-agency taskforce to combat online child sexual abuse and exploitation, and training and technical assistance to enhance Customs and Gendarmerie Royale capabilities to screen containers for illicit commodities entering or transshipping Tangier Med and other ports.

38. The issue of ‘cyber security’ was added to the agenda of the Security Working Group as a priority, reflecting excellent technical cooperation. Morocco welcomed the support and partnership of the UK’s Home Office over the last 2 years to enhance Morocco’s efforts to protect cyberspace from terrorism and safeguard transport infrastructure. The Ministers further welcomed the joint workshop, hosted by Bank Al Maghrib and the Bank of England in November 2022, with 16 central banks across Africa, to improve their cyber resilience.

III. Economic pillar

39. Morocco and the UK affirmed their shared ambition to expand economic ties between them and noted that during the 2nd session of the Association Council, the decision-making body of the Association Agreement, held on 16th February, Minister Mezzour and Minister Huddleston confirmed the positive momentum created since the entry into force of the Association Agreement between the 2 countries, and the holding of the 1st session of the Trade, Investment, Services, Agriculture, Fisheries, Sanitary and Phytosanitary Sub-committee in London on 29 July 2022.

40. These 2 sessions saw progress on rules of origin, digital trade, agriculture and sanitary and phytosanitary measures. At the Association Council, both parties agreed to the formation of a business taskforce to support greater participation for UK companies in Moroccan public procurement.

41. The parties noted that bilateral trade has increased significantly, and reflected on the successes of the £2.9 billion trading partnership, including the launch, on 25th April, of the first British university branch in Morocco by Coventry University, and the acquisition of Morocco’s Pharmaceutical Institute, by British International Investment-backed Kelix Bio, to boost local manufacturing of generic medicines. The Ministers also celebrated the success of Morocco’s $2.5 billion sovereign bond issuance in early March 2023 and listing on the London Stock Exchange.

42. Both Ministers noted the great potential to expand the relationship into other sectors of high benefit, given the comparative advantages enjoyed by the 2 countries. They expressed excitement about the Association Council agenda that will address barriers to trade and strengthen the partnership with Morocco, the growing maturity of that relationship, with the potential to develop innovative mechanisms, and draw on the competitive base Morocco offers for manufacture and onward export of goods.

43. In this context, the UK welcomed the launch of Morocco’s new Investment Charter, and Morocco welcomed UK Export Finance’s (UKEF) facility of £4.5 billion to support new business across Morocco, with opportunities across rail, water desalination and infrastructure.

44. Trade and investment between the 2 countries has grown significantly since the entry into force of the UK-Morocco Association Agreement between the 2 countries in 2021, and the 2 parties welcomed the December 2022 verdict, at His Majesty’s High Court of Justice in England, regarding the UK-Morocco Association Agreement. The 2 parties agreed to continue to work closely to maximise and develop the bilateral trading relationship.

45. The UK congratulated Morocco on exiting the Financial Action Task Force’s grey list and welcomed the Kingdom’s formal political commitment to the compliance of the national system of combating money laundering and terrorist financing, with international standards.

46. The UK looked forward to Morocco’s hosting of the Annual Meetings of the Boards of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank in Marrakech this October, and offered UK support to these meetings.

IV. Culture and education pillar

47. The UK commended the important role of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Commander of the Faithful, in promoting interfaith dialogue and spreading the universal values of peace and tolerance including through hosting, in November 2022 in Fez, the Ninth World Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations. Morocco also welcomed the UK’s work in this domain, including through the UK-hosted International Ministerial Conference on Freedom of Religion or Belief in London in July 2022.

48. Both countries confirmed their commitment to capitalise on the growing enthusiasm and interest in studying in the UK and the promotion of the English language among Moroccan youth. Pledging to work together to continue to expand opportunities to consolidate researchers and administrative capacity building, widen English certification, support PhD students mobility and to introduce curricula employing English language. The British Council renewed its commitment to work closely with the Ministries of Education and of Higher Education for the mutual benefit of both countries including through the annual UK-Morocco Higher Education Commission, which next meets on 10 May in London.

49. Since the last Strategic Dialogue, the number of British schools recognised in Morocco under the British Schools Agreement has risen to 7. The Ministers welcomed this trend and looked forward to further British schools being established. Both countries looked forward to evolving the formal opening of Coventry University campus in Casablanca, which offers the first British degree courses in Morocco, through its initial business and engineering faculties.

50. Both Ministers welcomed this week’s visit by Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, Mr Abdellatif Miraoui to the UK, to attend the annual UK-hosted Education World Forum and to co-chair the 5th UK-Morocco Higher Education Commission and through which the UK and Morocco will strengthen and deepen collaboration on research, transnational education and technical assistance.

51. They also agreed on the importance of further expanding our cultural, artistic and sporting links and exchanges, following on from last year’s celebration of the 300th anniversary of trading relations. Both Ministers also warmly welcomed the resurgence in British visitor numbers to close to pre-pandemic levels. 2022 was also a year of shared celebration at sporting success including for England’s Lionesses at Euro 2022, Morocco’s Atlas Lionesses at AFCON, and the Atlas Lions at the FIFA World Cup.