A European Union member state has once again reaffirmed its support for the Kingdom of Morocco in resolving the Sahara issue. Belgium, which hosts the EU headquarters, considers Morocco’s autonomy initiative a good basis for a solution accepted by the parties.
On January 29, 2025, during a visit to Rabat, the Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Affairs, Foreign Trade, and Cultural Institutions reiterated his country’s stance on the Moroccan Sahara issue.
“Belgium deems the Moroccan Autonomy Initiative, presented in 2007, to be a serious and credible effort by Morocco and a very good basis for a solution accepted by all parties”, Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Affairs, Foreign Trade and Cultural Institutions Bernard Quintin said during a press briefing following his talks, on Wednesday in Rabat, with Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates Nasser Bourita.
In a Joint Statement issued at the close of Wednesday’s meeting in Rabat between the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, MFA Nasser Bourita, and his Belgian counterpart, Bernard Quintin, the two ministers also welcomed the momentum in relations following the 3rd meeting of the High Joint Partnership Commission, held on April 15, 2024 in Rabat. *
In this regard, “the two ministers praised the excellent ties of friendship between His Majesty King Mohammed VI and His Majesty King Philippe, as well as the great esteem between the Royal Families of the two countries and the warm relations between their two peoples.”
The two ministers voiced “the two countries’ desire to strengthen political dialogue and further promote economic partnership in trade and investment, particularly in the field of energy transition and green energies,” the joint statement emphasizes.
MFA Bourita and Quintin also vowed to continue strengthening cooperation in other priority areas, as defined in the roadmap drawn up by the High Joint Partnership Commission, such as culture, youth, migration and security cooperation in the broad sense.
On this occasion, “Belgium welcomed the various ambitious reforms implemented under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, notably the reform of the Family Code and advanced regionalization.”
The strengthening of Morocco’s cooperation with Belgium falls in line with the efforts made by Morocco as part of the Royal Vision aimed at diversifying partnerships. It also confirms Morocco’s role as a strategic player for European countries.
