The Spanish-Moroccan summit, with the presence of Spanish President Pedro Sánchez and Moroccan head of government Aziz Akhannouch, has a strong economic character

Marruecos y España encaran la Reunión de Alto Nivel buscando fortalecer lazos

photo_camera PHOTO/PALACIO REAL DE MARRUECOS - File photo: Pedro Sánchez is received by the King of Morocco, Mohammed VI

The long-awaited moment has arrived. The High Level Meeting (HLM) between Morocco and Spain is being held in Rabat in an optimal atmosphere due to the good diplomatic relations that currently exist between the two nations.  

The prevailing good atmosphere was built on the basis of the latest rapprochement between the neighbours on both sides of the Mediterranean after Spain recognised the Moroccan kingdom's proposal to resolve the Western Sahara issue as the "most serious, credible and realistic" in the face of other proposals, such as that of the Polisario Front, which calls for a referendum on independence for the Sahrawi people.  

This diplomatic milestone in March 2022 marked the repair of ties that were damaged by a tense political situation that was clouded by Spain's reception of the Polisario Front leader, Brahim Ghali, to be treated for a major respiratory ailment in a hospital in Logroño in April 2021. The North African country denounced the lack of cooperation and information from a country considered a neighbour and ally, and this situation led to a deterioration in relations between the two nations.

Other difficult episodes followed, such as the illegal entry of thousands of immigrants through the Ceuta border and the withdrawal of the Moroccan ambassador Karima Benyaich from Madrid.  

Spain tried to redirect the situation and gestures of rapprochement were made by King Felipe VI and the decision to appoint José Manuel Albares as Foreign Minister, replacing Arancha González Laya, who was badly affected by the Ghali case, which was subsequently investigated by the courts.  

The definitive step came with Spain's adhesion to Morocco's formula for ending more than four decades of Sahrawi conflict, based on broad autonomy for Western Sahara under Moroccan sovereignty, respecting the resolutions of the United Nations. This proposal has received significant international support in recent years, including from the United States, Germany, the United Arab Emirates and Spain itself. Meanwhile, the option defended by the Polisario Front enjoys less international support, particularly that of Algeria, Morocco's great political rival in the Maghreb, with which it even broke off diplomatic relations in August 2021 after denouncing alleged Moroccan 'hostile acts' and due to deep political differences.  

After the important step taken by Spain, King Mohammed VI invited the Spanish President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, to visit Rabat in the middle of Ramadan in April 2022. A meeting in which a roadmap was established that is marking the trajectory of the bilateral relationship between the two countries until reaching this 12th Morocco-Spain High-Level Meeting. 

sanchez-mohamed-vi-reunion-alto-nivel-españa-marruecos

Now, it is hoped that this HLM will serve to strengthen ties and avoid a new crisis in the future between two nations that consider themselves allies and partners in the Mediterranean framework in all areas. One of these areas, in addition to politics, is the economy, where the two countries have many interests in continuing to promote mutual well-being and development. The Spanish government points out that the first high-level meeting to be held with Morocco in eight years will mark the beginning of a period of stable relations that will avoid the repetition of a possible future crisis. 

This is the first bilateral summit of this level since 2015 and the economy has a great weight in it. The summit brings to Rabat this Wednesday and Thursday the Spanish President of the Government Pedro Sánchez, a dozen ministers and a large delegation of businessmen to seal various agreements. Pedro Sánchez will meet with Aziz Akhannouch, head of the Moroccan Government, and the President of the Spanish Government will participate in the Spain-Morocco Business Forum that is being held in the framework of the RAN between Morocco and Spain under the coordination of the General Confederation of Moroccan Companies (CGEM), the Morocco-Spain Economic Council (CEMAES) and the Spanish Confederation of Business Organisations (CEOE). 

Foreign Direct Investment in Morocco will play a major role in what will be discussed at the meeting. Spain ranks fifth on the list of countries investing in the North African country with an investment volume of 1,400 million Moroccan dirhams (126 million euros) in the first months of 2022. France, the United States, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom are ahead. Meanwhile, trade between Spain and Morocco amounted to 19 billion euros in the first nine months of 2022.  

aziz-akhannouch-jefe-gobierno-marruecos-reunion-alto-nivel-españa-marruecos

It should be noted that up to 800 Spanish companies are present in the Alawi kingdom, although many of them are small or medium-sized (SMEs) and this is what the aim is to improve. Agriculture, automotive, banking, hospitality and textiles are very desirable sectors for Spain to develop business in the neighbouring country, and the RAN will surely serve to increase the level of investment and trade between two countries that consider themselves allies and partners. 

More in Politics