From 28 to 30 October 2024, King Mohammed VI of Morocco received the French President Emmanuel Macron in Rabat for a state visit. To this end, on October 28, 2024, the two leaders signed the Declaration on the « Enhanced Exceptional Partnership » between the Kingdom of Morocco and the French Republic, marking a turning point in relations between the two countries.
As part of a « reinforced exceptional partnership », 22 agreements worth 10 billion euros were signed in Rabat on October 28 by the Moroccan King Mohammed VI and his French counterpart, President Emmanuel Macron. The agreements, which covers various sectors including rail transport, green hydrogen, water management, education and civil protection, illustrate the shared desire of the two countries to better respond to all the challenges they face by mobilising all sectors of bilateral, regional and international cooperation.
Today, diplomatic relations are resuming with vigour, as always, and economic relations have never stopped because of the interdependence between the Moroccan and French economies through well-known sectors.
Abdelghani Youmni, Economist – Morocco
With regard to the Sahara issue, the two Heads of State stressed that the « reinforced exceptional partnership » between Morocco and France should be implemented on the widest possible territorial basis, in the light of the French position expressed on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of King Mohamed VI’s accession to the throne. France, like more than 110 countries around the world, recognises Morocco’s plan for autonomy in the Sahara as the most viable solution for the management and development of this territory, which is disputed with the Polisario Front.
I believe that the present and future of Western Sahara are part of Moroccan sovereignty. For France, autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty is the framework within which this issue must be resolved. Our support for the autonomy plan proposed by Morocco in 2007 is clear and constant. For France, this is now the only basis for a just, lasting and negotiated political solution in accordance with the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council.
Emmanuel Macron, President of the Republic – France
Among the key projects included in the reinforced exceptional partnership between Morocco and France is a plan for the development of Morocco’s railway network for the period 2020-2030. This plan includes major projects such as the Tangier-Marrakech high-speed line for the 2030 World Cup in Morocco. Morocco and France have also stressed the importance of deepening the partnership between the two shores of the Mediterranean.