Morocco, Belgium Strengthen Ties at Bilateral Summit \ Newslooks \ Washington\ Morocco and Belgium have committed to enhancing their strategic partnership, emphasizing their continued growth in bilateral relations following the third High Joint Commission meeting. The meeting, co-chaired by Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch and his Belgian counterpart, Alexander De Croo, culminated in a Joint Declaration reinforcing their commitment to deepen cooperation across a spectrum of sectors including trade, investment, and climate change initiatives.
During the commission, held recently, both leaders praised the ongoing political dialogues, highlighted by the visit of Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hadja Lahbib, to Morocco. This engagement underscores the importance of parliamentary cooperation and the potential for a joint parliamentary forum to facilitate dialogue and exchange between the two nations.
Akhannouch and De Croo also expressed enthusiasm for economic initiatives such as the “Moroccan Investment Charter” and Belgium’s role in energy transition and circular economy projects. Notably, both countries are looking forward to the economic opportunities linked with Morocco’s hosting of the 2030 World Cup and Belgium’s advancements in green hydrogen.
Furthermore, a Business Forum scheduled for April 16 in Casablanca is expected to offer a platform for economic operators from both countries to explore trade and investment opportunities. The leaders also acknowledged the longstanding development cooperation between Morocco and Belgium, which now includes efforts focused on economic inclusion for women and youth, and projects aiding the reconstruction of the Al Haouz region.
Judicial cooperation also received significant attention, with both governments lauding the progress in civil and criminal matters, including the implementation of conventions related to the assistance and transfer of detained and convicted persons.
Security and migration were other focal points of the Joint Declaration, with both leaders committing to enhanced measures against organized crime and terrorism, and further collaboration on migration issues.
Cultural exchanges also form a crucial part of the Morocco-Belgium relationship, with both countries exploring further cooperation in arts, heritage, and museum projects. Moreover, the dialogue extended to sports, with Morocco applauding Belgium’s joint bid to host the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2027, emphasizing the importance of sports in fostering international relations.
