The meeting was an opportunity for both parties to have an overview of the regional and international news and to review the depth of the links and the solidity of the partnership uniting Morocco and the European Union.
Mr. Hachimi Idrissi took this opportunity to highlight the place Morocco enjoys today on the international and regional scene as an actor of peace and co-development hub of the African continent.
He emphasized in this regard the need for Europe — a region concerned today by several issues related to defense and energy security– not to forget its southern neighborhood with whom it can build a space of shared prosperity.
Morocco, thanks to the vision of HM King Mohammed VI, the structural reforms it has undertaken in various fields, the resilience and great adaptability of its economy and the institutional stability it enjoys, has all the assets to be the pivot of this space, MAP’s DG said.
Referring to the prospects for development of the press sector in Morocco, Mr. Hachimi Idrissi stressed that in a context marked by the proliferation of electronic media and the scourge of citizen-journalism, the profession is experiencing a decline in ethics and a collapse of its economic model.
He called, in that regard, for an Awakening and for a strategic vision developed by the profession itself that would get the sector out of this situation.
For her part, the EU diplomat welcomed the excellent level of partnership with Morocco, praising the reforms carried out in the Kingdom under the leadership of HM King Mohammed VI in many areas.
“The European Union is a privileged partner of Morocco. It accompanies the Kingdom in the implementation of many projects,” she told M24, MAP’s 24-hour news channel.
“The partnership between Morocco and the EU is enriched by history, culture, human ties, but also important economic exchanges. The two countries have a shared vision of the future,” Llombart Cussac stated, adding that the challenges facing Europe today in terms of defense and energy security, in particular, require a new perspective on the partnership with the southern neighborhood.
“The war in Ukraine, the energy crisis, food security, climate: all these are challenges that require greater solidarity and stronger cooperation,” she said, noting that Morocco and the European Union have enormous opportunities to develop a triangular partnership with Africa turned to the future, especially in the energy transition.
Regarding press and media, the diplomat recalled that the European Commission has recently adopted new legislation that consists of a set of rules to protect pluralism, transparency and independence of the media within the EU.
The European Commission will soon launch a support and training program for the Moroccan media to which MAP could contribute, she noted.
