EU/Morocco cooperation for securing the Maghreb and the Sahel
(BRUSSELS2) An important step in strengthening relations with Morocco, the implementation of the Advanced Status Action Plan (2013-2017) was adopted at the 11th Morocco-EU Association Council held on December 16 in Brussels. This text, which includes a significant section on foreign and security policy for the period 2013-2017.
In particular, it calls for “strengthen dialogue and cooperation in the field of foreign and security policy with a view to ensuring regular consultation on international issues, consideration of the interests of each of the parties and the strengthening of security and stability, in particular in the Maghreb » and in the Sahelo-Saharan zone.
Strengthen the necessary regional cooperation
Faced with the security challenges facing the Sahel region, a " closer cooperation between the neighboring countries of this region in danger” is a priority. Emphasis is placed on the need to support regional integration initiatives and projects such as the Union for the Mediterranean, 5+5 cooperation (*), the Arab Maghreb Union (AMU). The objective is to promote intra-regional integration and intensify Africa-EU dialogue.
The EU also says it is ready to lend its full support to reconciliation between Morocco and Algeria, and hopes that they “can contribute to the strengthening of regional cooperation”.
Bilateral political dialogue at the heart of the action plan
This dialogue will be established by the organization of Morocco-EU Summits, “meetings between the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Morocco and the High Representative” and “informal meetings with his European counterparts”. In addition, senior Moroccan officials will meet with members of EU Council committees and groups, including the Political and Security Committee (PSC), the Maghreb-Mashreq group, and the Africa group... All these meetings will be scheduled “on an ad-hoc basis”. To strengthen this dialogue, Morocco must express its support “on a case-by-case basis to declarations and decisions of the Council of the EU on the common foreign and security policy (CFSP)”. Consultations will also take place within UN forums.
Morocco in CSDP missions
Within the framework of cooperation for conflict prevention and crisis management, the action plan provides for the conclusion of a "framework agreement for the participation of Morocco in EU crisis management operations (civilian and military)". Morocco will be invited, “where appropriate, to participate in training activities on crisis prevention and management organized by the European Security and Defense College (CESD)”. The partnership for peace and security in Africa must be developed and Morocco is encouraged to contribute to conflict resolution efforts. In the process, the conclusion of a framework agreement on information security is " contemplated ».
Civil protection and CBRN
The text also provides for coordination and cooperation for civil protection. The installation, in Morocco, of the Secretariat of the West Africa/Atlantic Façade center of the Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Center of Excellence is being studied.
Non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction
Morocco must engage in cooperation on non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and control of arms exports. This will be done through contribution to the 2010 Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference, active participation in the Arms Trade Treaty negotiations, national implementation of various international obligations (International atomic energy, Hague Code of Conduct on ballistic missile proliferation, nuclear test ban treaty, etc.). The export of light and small arms is also at the heart of the actions to be taken by the Moroccan government.
(*) Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Tunisia - France, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Spain
Download the Action plan.
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