Morocco and European Union Sign Amended Agricultural Agreement in Brussels

Brussels, 03/10/2025 (MAP) – The Kingdom of Morocco and the European Union signed, on Friday at the headquarters of the European Commission in Brussels, an exchange of letters amending the agricultural agreement linking the two parties, further consolidating the strength of their partnership built on broad, multidimensional cooperation.

The agreement, signed on Morocco’s side by His Majesty the King’s Ambassador to the EU, Ahmed Réda Chami, enters into provisional application immediately, pending completion of the internal procedures of both parties.

Equal Access for Southern Provinces

Under this arrangement, which was negotiated in a spirit of partnership and compromise, agricultural products from Morocco’s Southern Provinces will benefit from the same preferential access to the European market as products from the rest of the Kingdom, in line with the Morocco-EU Association Agreement.

The text introduces technical adjustments to facilitate market access and enhance product value, particularly through consumer information measures such as labeling that indicates production regions in the South of the Kingdom – Laayoune-Sakia El Hamra and Dakhla-Oued Eddahab.

Reinforcing a Strategic Partnership

In continuity with the 2018 exchange of letters between Morocco and the EU, the new agreement strengthens commercial ties and consolidates a robust partnership, with Morocco recognized as the EU’s main economic partner in Africa and the Arab world.

The agreement is expected to make a significant contribution to Morocco’s agricultural GDP, while supporting investment and job creation, particularly in the Southern Provinces, where over 150,000 jobs have already been created in recent years, with nearly 50,000 more projected.

Political and Economic Significance

The signing underscores Morocco’s long-standing position that any agreement signed with Morocco applies to the entire national territory, including the Southern Provinces. It also confirms the legitimacy of Morocco’s socio-economic development efforts in these regions.

The EU’s endorsement highlights the growing international interest in economic activities in the Moroccan Sahara and reflects a shared commitment to making the region a bridge between Europe and Africa, as well as between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic. Recent initiatives such as the upcoming Morocco-France Economic Forum in Dakhla and projects supported by the United States and UK Export Finance demonstrate this momentum.

Stronger EU-Morocco Relations

Beyond agriculture, the agreement reflects the EU’s confidence in Morocco as a reliable and credible partner, with annual trade exceeding €60 billion, including industrial, equipment, and agricultural products.

This accord also sends a clear message:

• It reaffirms the strength and resilience of Morocco-EU relations despite external pressures.
• It demonstrates the failure of attempts by opponents of Morocco’s territorial integrity to undermine the partnership.

Looking Ahead

His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist Him, has consistently emphasized that the Morocco-EU partnership should be deployed through concrete, diversified, and mutually beneficial actions. While agriculture and trade remain central, cooperation also extends to areas such as politics, security, migration, mobility, environment, digital economy, and culture.

At a time of regional complexity and structural crises, the conclusion of this agreement represents a major step forward, enabling Morocco and the EU to approach their common future with confidence and ambition.