Policy paper

UK-Morocco Association agreement: inaugural Ministerial Association Council – joint communique

Published 9 December 2021

This was published under the 2019 to 2022 Johnson Conservative government

The Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, the Right Honourable Liz Truss, Minister with Minister of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs of the United Kingdom, the Right Honorable James Cleverly and the Minister of State for International Trade, Ranil Jayawardena, welcomed their Excellencies Nasser Bourita, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates and Ryad Mezzour, Minister for Trade and Investment of the Kingdom of Morocco, to London on 7 and 8 December for the 3rd UK-Morocco Strategic Dialogue and the inaugural meeting of the UK-Morocco Association Council.

Within this framework, Mrs Truss and Mr Bourita had fruitful discussions on the development of the strategic partnership between the United Kingdom and the Kingdom of Morocco. Mr Bourita and Mr Cleverly held a further session of bilateral political consultations as part of the Strategic Dialogue. Minister Jayawardena and Minister Mezzour chaired a bilateral economic discussion on progressing the trading relationship.

The two countries warmly recalled the history of their friendly and mutually beneficial relationship. Morocco and the UK welcomed the 300th anniversary of the signature of the first commercial treaty between our two countries, on 23 January 1721 in Fez.

They reaffirmed their vision of a Strategic Partnership to deepen their economic and security relations, strengthen their cultural ties, support each other’s ambitious contributions to tackling climate change and help each other build back better from the Covid-19 pandemic.

1. The Inaugural UK- Morocco Association Council and economic cooperation

The two countries expressed their joint ambition to expand the economic links between them, including bilateral trade, which despite the pandemic, is worth £1.7 billion a year, as well as mutually beneficial investments. The UK welcomed His Majesty King Mohammed VI’s reforms for a bolder, more open and dynamic Moroccan society and economy in the months and years to come.

The new Association Agreement provides a platform from which to deepen this economic partnership. The Association Council adopted Rules of Procedure and established a sub-Committee on “Trade, Investment, Services, Agriculture, Fisheries, Sanitary and Phytosanitary aspects (SPS) and Customs” with further working groups focused on Customs, Investment and Agriculture.

The sub-Committee will explore opportunities for deepening this relationship and for increasing bilateral trade and investment, including through ensuring the Association Agreement is implemented as effectively as possible, and addressing barriers faced by British and Moroccan companies when accessing each other’s markets. Our new engagement on trade has already addressed market access for approved exporters, and will explore these barriers with regards to taxation and in the field of renewable energy over the coming year. The sub-committee will prepare, in coordination with the Association Committee, its recommendations for the next annual Council meeting.

The two countries highlighted their aspiration to develop their economic relations by encouraging UK companies to explore opportunities to invest in Morocco across a variety of sectors, particularly given Morocco’s access to other emerging markets. The two countries looked forward to the completion of a number of investment projects.

2. Political and security dialogue

The United Kingdom commended the successes of Morocco’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, in particular its vaccination campaign carried out under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI. Morocco expressed its appreciation for UK support to the launch of Morocco’s vaccine manufacturing initiative, enhancing Morocco’s and Africa’s health resilience as well as generating economic outcomes and high-skilled jobs in productive sectors.

The Ministers welcomed deepening cooperation in support of climate action. They affirmed the urgent need for parties to deliver on the Glasgow Climate Declaration, and for developed countries to mobilise further finance with a balanced focus on both adaptation and mitigation. Morocco welcomed UK bilateral support for its energy transition, including for the Noor solar power station, Ouarzazate, and through the innovative COP26 Energy Transition Council, for COP22 initiatives on climate-resilient agriculture in Africa, and for Morocco’s water and flood management. They further welcomed ongoing collaboration to align financial systems with climate and sustainability goals and attract development and commercial capital to deliver a clean and resilient recovery, including through the Mohammed VI Investment Fund, and through support upcoming domestic green and social bond issuances.

The UK welcomed Morocco’s leadership at COP26 including through its ambitious NDC and commitments on international collaboration for clean technology, on forests and land use, no new investment in unabated coal and towards low-carbon transport, and its ongoing support to the resilience of the African continent including through the Regional Climate Change Commissions launched during COP22.

Reflecting their shared conviction that post-COVID-19 economic recovery efforts are consistent with climate action, the two parties confirmed they would shortly sign a Strategic Framework to sustain and expand their cooperation on climate action, clean energy and green growth, in support of Morocco’s transition to a resilient low carbon economy.

The two countries affirmed their close relationship and will to deepen their dialogue and collaboration on key global and regional strategic challenges.

On Libya, the Ministers recalled that UN Security Council Resolution 2570 underscored the central role of the United Nations in facilitating a Libyan-led and Libyan-owned inclusive political process, and recalled the need to end parallel efforts outside of UN auspices.

They welcomed the 23 October 2020 ceasefire agreement, including the withdrawal of foreign forces and mercenaries from Libya without delay, and the October 2021 5+5 Joint Military Commission Action Plan. They underlined the importance of an inclusive and consultative electoral process with the wide acceptance of Libyan stakeholders. The United Kingdom praised Morocco’s efforts in favour of a stable and peaceful Libya, including the Skhirate Agreement (Political Agreement) of July 11, 2015 and the inter-Libyan dialogue of Bouznika and Tangier, which contributed to the agreement on the mechanisms for the appointment to posts of sovereignty in Libya. They reaffirmed their strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and national unity of Libya.

Both countries condemned, in the strongest terms, the use of chemical weapons by anyone, and under any circumstances, stressing that the use of chemical weapons anywhere, anytime, by anyone, and in any circumstance is unacceptable and constitutes a violation of international law and expressed their firm belief that those responsible for the use of these weapons must answer for their actions. Both countries underlined that all States Parties must respect their obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention. The two countries called for work to strengthen the regime established by implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons Convention and to further consolidate the role of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons for the advent of a world free of chemical weapons.

The two countries noted their ambition to deepen their dialogue and collaboration in the increasingly important realm of cyber security, and their support for a free, open, peaceful and secure cyberspace. They welcomed continued engagement within the ongoing Open-Ended Working Group to advance the UN Consensus Framework for responsible state behaviour in cyberspace, as well as current work to strengthen the Budapest Convention, the leading international treaty on cybercrime, and agreed to engage constructively in efforts to develop a new international cybercrime convention to ensure that it is inclusive, results-oriented and protects human rights and is largely supported by States parties.

The United Kingdom’s Home Office and the Moroccan Direction Générale de la Sécurité des Systèmes d’Information (DGSSI) will complete their groundbreaking work on a joint integrated cyber analysis project which will deliver an integrated UK package of strategic cyber security capacity building assistance. Morocco is the first country with which the UK and its delivery partners (the International Telecommunications Union and Oxford University) have established this relationship. Both countries looked forward with anticipation to the opening of a new Cyber Security Centre of Excellence for Africa in Morocco, brought about by a partnership of UK and Moroccan joint venture companies and Universities.

Both sides called for more resolute international action to address terrorism and violent extremism in all its forms, and reaffirmed their support for the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. The two parties expressed their deep concern regarding the evolution of the terrorist threat in Africa, particularly in the Sahel. The UK praised Morocco’s contribution to regional and international efforts to combat terrorism and welcomed the establishment in Rabat of a UN Office of Counter-Terrorism and Training in Africa.

Morocco and the UK recalled their cooperation in the fight against international crime. In this regard, many of Morocco’s regional airports have managed to reinforce their capacities to fight drug smuggling, through UK support, training and technology. This cooperation extends to the maritime realm and will support the joint security requirement for a new direct Tangier Med to Poole ferry service. The field of protection of children has also benefited from training and equipment through the Child Protection System and the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).

Regarding the Western Sahara issue, Morocco reported on the latest developments on the ground as well as within the United Nations.

The United Kingdom reaffirmed its commitment to assist the parties to achieve a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution to the question of Western Sahara, based on compromise, which will provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara in the context of arrangements consistent with the principles and purposes of the Charter of the United Nations.

The UK underlined the primary role of the UN in mediation to resolve this issue and reaffirmed its support for UNSCR 2602, which noted the role and responsibilities of the parties and welcomes serious and credible Moroccan efforts to move the process forward towards resolution.

The UK and Morocco welcomed the appointment of the UN Secretary General’s Personal Envoy, Mr Staffan de Mistura and affirmed their full support for his efforts to find a solution to this long-lasting dispute.

Noting the publication earlier this year of the United Kingdom’s Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy, the Ministers committed to working closely together in support of the Rules Based International System and to promote human rights, freedom of religion and belief and of expression.

3. Culture and education

Both countries have confirmed their commitment to capitalise on the growing enthusiasm and interest in UK education and the English Language amongst Moroccan youth. Pledging to work together to expand opportunities for English language learning, teacher training, research collaboration and transnational education, the British Council has renewed its commitment to work closely with the Ministries of Education and Higher Education for the mutual benefit of both countries.

Since the last Strategic Dialogue, four British Schools have been established in Morocco under the British Schools Agreement, the UK-Morocco Higher Education Commission has been established – meeting regularly to strengthen and deepen collaboration on research, transnational education and technical assistance - and almost 1,000 Moroccan students now study at UK universities each year.