Rabat — Morocco and the European Union reaffirmed their shared commitment to strengthening bilateral relations during high-level talks held in Rabat on 16 April 2026 between Morocco’s Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas.
The meeting built on renewed momentum following the 15th EU-Morocco Association Council held on 29 January 2026, with both sides underlining the depth, dynamism and strategic importance of their long-standing partnership.
Speaking after discussions, Kallas described the relationship as firmly rooted in shared interests and mutual trust, stressing its evolution into a structured strategic framework. She said the partnership is a “close, reliable, and strategic relationship” and highlighted its continued expansion across political, economic and sectoral cooperation.
On the question of Western Sahara, Kallas reiterated the EU’s position in support of a United Nations-led political process. She pointed to what she described as an evolution in the EU’s stance earlier this year, aligned with recent UN Security Council developments calling for negotiations based on Morocco’s autonomy proposal. She also noted that “recent developments, including talks facilitated by the United States in coordination with the United Nations, are encouraging.”
The EU position welcomes constructive contributions from the parties in response to the Autonomy Proposal and calls for discussions without preconditions, taking it as a basis for achieving a final settlement that ensures self-determination for the people of Western Sahara. It also recognizes that genuine autonomy could represent a most viable outcome and encourages the submission of ideas to support a mutually acceptable solution.
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The European Union welcomed Morocco’s readiness to engage in good faith with all relevant parties to further clarify the framework of the autonomy initiative and the practical modalities of autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty. It also reiterated its readiness to support consultations within the framework of the United Nations and to back the efforts of the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy.
For his part, Bourita emphasized the structural depth of Morocco-EU relations, describing the partnership as a “concrete reality” spanning more than half a century. “The partnership between Morocco and the European Union is a pivotal and strategic partnership… not just a slogan, but a concrete reality and an objective description of the weight of this relationship,” he said.
Bourita added that the relationship is “multi-dimensional,” covering political, economic, security, social, cultural and human dimensions, and is grounded in mutual respect and shared ambition.
Both officials reaffirmed their commitment to the full implementation of the EU–Morocco Association Agreement and agreed to maintain positive momentum in bilateral ties. They also expressed their intention to finalize a Strategic and Comprehensive Partnership aimed at elevating relations to a higher level.
As part of this roadmap, the two sides agreed on concrete steps, including the upcoming political consultations in Rabat, the organization of a security dialogue before the end of the year, and the relaunch of the full cycle of institutional meetings under the Association Agreement to ensure continuity and a more structured framework for cooperation.
