The prime ministers of Portugal and Morocco intend to raise bilateral political relations to the level of strategic partnership. Such a decision will be made at a government summit on Friday in Lisbon, where 13 cooperation agreements will also be signed.
António Costa and his Moroccan counterpart, Aziz Ahannouche, are presiding over the 14th Portugal-Morocco High-Level Meeting, resuming government-level summits that were suspended due to the covid-19 pandemic.
A source in the Lisbon administration told Lusa that the two governments will raise their relationship to the level of a strategic partnership, “a new level that strengthens political dialogue with constant contacts on issues of bilateral, regional and national scope.” International”.
As a result of the XIV high-level meeting, the governments of both countries are preparing to sign 13 legal documents, one of which is an agreement on cooperation in the field of civil protection, covering serious accidents or disasters.
According to a diplomatic source, the two leaders are expected to sign a memorandum on scientific and technological research, as well as a program for the implementation of a cultural and scientific agreement, which should be valid until 2025.
Among the 13 legal instruments there is also an action plan in the field of tourism.
From the side of the Portuguese government, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs João Gomes Cravinho, the Ministers of Economy, António Costa Silva, the Environment, Duarte Cordeiro, Science and Technology, Elvira Fortunato, and the Deputy and Members of Parliament for Affairs Ana Catarina Mendez. , from work and social security, Ama Mendez Godinho, and from infrastructure, Joao Galamba.
A note released by the Prime Minister’s Office last Monday mentioned that “Portugal and Morocco will celebrate in 2024 the 250th anniversary of the Peace Treaty and the 30th anniversary of the Treaty of Friendship, Good Neighborliness and Cooperation.”
Regarding the agenda for this summit of governments, Lisbon’s chief executive stressed that the goal is to promote “a strategic partnership between two countries whose historical ties are linked to a strong level of political, economic and cultural cooperation.”
“Focused on areas of expertise, social cohesion and economic development, the meeting will focus on topics such as electrical connectivity and labor mobility. Several legal documents will also be signed to strengthen bilateral relations, and there will be an economic forum on the same day,” they added in the same note.
The last summit between the governments of Portugal and Morocco took place in December 2017 in Rabat, when 12 bilateral cooperation agreements were signed.
In conclusion, the Prime Minister considered that the growing proximity and economic interdependence between Portugal and Morocco is a central strategic factor for the future of the two countries, both in terms of security and Euro-African relations.
“For Portugal, Morocco is the country where Africa begins. For Morocco, Portugal is the country where Europe begins. The nearest capital to Lisbon is Rabat,” he said, referring to the geographical proximity of the two countries.
The Prime Minister also mentioned the prospect of starting construction of a 220-kilometer connecting cable between Tavira and Tangier in the first half of 2018 – the project at that time was estimated at 500 to 700 million euros. However, this project is not yet completed.
Author: Portuguese
Source: CM Jornal
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