Recent European positions on the Sahara and the adoption of Security Council Resolution 2797 in October 2025 reignite the debate on the evolution of relations between Morocco and the European Union. With growing international support for its autonomy plan, Rabat emerges as a central player in the region, while Brussels aims to strengthen a more balanced partnership.
To decipher these developments, Doha Lkasmi, Director General of NSI Morocco, provides insight. A recognized specialist in Moroccan foreign policy and the Sahara issue, she has navigated academia, strategic consulting, and Moroccan diplomacy, with experiences at Yale University and the University of Oxford, as well as within Moroccan diplomatic representations in Europe. Drawing on her expertise in geopolitics and strategic influence, she discusses the current state of the Morocco-EU partnership and the prospects for the years to come.
“The recent positions of the European Union on the Sahara issue have sparked numerous reactions. What political and diplomatic interpretation should be made of that today?” – Le360
Doha Lkasmi: We must first recall that the relationship between Morocco and the European Union recently went through a period of tension and misunderstanding. This was notably linked to the decisions of the Court of Justice of the European Union regarding trade agreements involving the Sahara, as well as certain criticisms expressed by the European Commission towards Morocco. These elements contributed to strain relations between Rabat and Brussels. However, given the richness and density of the ties that unite Morocco and the European Union – whether historical, economic, security, or cultural – neither Rabat nor Brussels wanted to let these tensions persist. Efforts were therefore made on both sides to restore a climate of trust.
“How have these diplomatic efforts concretely been translated on both sides?”
From the Moroccan side, diplomacy, under the King’s impetus, has been more offensive and proactive, explaining and educating, both to European institutions and member states, to highlight the vital interests of the Kingdom. This dynamic allowed the European Union to reassess the central role of Morocco in its southern neighborhood. In parallel, from the European side, a more open attitude was observed, marked by a willingness to better understand Morocco and to integrate more what the Kingdom considers its essential national interests. Thanks to these reciprocal diplomatic efforts, both parties were able to overcome this period of tension and reposition their partnership in a calmer perspective, based on shared interests.
“Do you believe these positions reflect a change in the European stance towards Morocco and the Sahara issue?”
Today, Morocco and the European Union have clearly expressed their desire to move forward on the Sahara issue. During the latest Association Council held in Brussels on 29 January 2026, the European Union notably welcomed the adoption of Security Council Resolution 2797 in October 2025. In this context, it now considers that the autonomy plan proposed by Morocco in 2007 can be a serious basis for reaching a political solution to this dispute. This plan is perceived as a fair, credible option that could garner consensus. The European Union also praised Morocco’s efforts to clarify the parameters of this initiative, detailing what autonomy for the Sahara under Moroccan sovereignty would entail and how it could be implemented.
“How do you explain this evolution in the European position?”
This shift is part of a broader international context characterized by growing support for the Moroccan autonomy plan. Within the European Union, an increasing number of member states have explicitly backed this initiative. Historical partners of Morocco like France, Spain, Germany, Italy, and Belgium, as well as geographically more distant countries such as Latvia, now view this proposal as the most credible way to stabilize the region. This trend is also evident internationally. The United States and regional groupings like the Gulf countries consistently support the Moroccan autonomy plan, strengthening its international standing.
“In this scenario, how would you characterize the current state of relations between Morocco and the European Union? Are we in a phase of consolidation or reconfiguration?”
I would say that the relationship between Morocco and the European Union is currently in a phase of both consolidation and reconfiguration. There is a clear desire to consolidate achievements. The primary pillar remains the association agreement, which celebrates its thirtieth anniversary this year and serves as the fundamental legal framework for the relations between the two parties. Combined with a high-level political dialogue, Rabat and Brussels regularly exchange views on their respective priorities and coordinate their positions. The economic foundation is particularly strong: the European Union remains Morocco’s top investor and main trading partner. Additionally, security cooperation is another central pillar, with close exchanges on security and regional stability issues.
“In what way can we talk, in parallel, about a reconfiguration of this partnership?”
The reconfiguration is mainly about the changing nature of the partnership. It is no longer just a relationship where orientations are mainly defined in Brussels and transmitted to Morocco, but a model that is becoming more balanced and mature. The goal is to move towards a relationship more based on the co-construction of priorities and cooperation programs. This requires a true paradigm shift, where Morocco and the European Union engage in dialogue and decision-making on an equal footing. In this perspective, the two partners would negotiate and define their orientations together, respecting each other’s priorities but also building around common goals to create a more strategic and balanced partnership.
“Beyond the Sahara issue, what could be the main areas of cooperation between Morocco and the European Union in the coming years?”
Morocco and the European Union have several significant levers to reinforce their cooperation. The first concerns security and regional stability. The Euro-Mediterranean region faces numerous security challenges, including illicit trafficking and criminal networks operating across the Mediterranean. In this context, Morocco occupies a strategic position, at the crossroads of Europe and the Sahel, and can play a crucial role in enhancing the resilience and stability of this area in close coordination with the European Union. A second major axis is that of energy transition and sustainable development. Morocco has emerged as a leader in Africa in renewable energies. This momentum paves the way for increased European investments in sectors like solar, wind, water desalination, energy efficiency, and sustainable infrastructure. Finally, a third area of cooperation concerns innovation and research. Morocco and the European Union could enhance scientific and technological exchanges, facilitating researcher mobility between the two shores and developing jointly financed research programs between Moroccan and European universities.
“What are the prospects for the future of bilateral relations between Morocco and the EU in a changing geopolitical context?”
In an international context marked by multiple crises and increasing instability, no state or regional group can single-handedly address the major economic, security, or humanitarian challenges today. The future increasingly relies on enhanced cooperation logics and strategic partnerships between regional actors. Relations between Morocco and the European Union could evolve into an even more structured partnership, capable of acting as a true pillar of stability in the face of global challenges. This could translate into the development of shared capacities to anticipate and manage crises more rapidly, react more swiftly to instability situations. Strengthening strategic dialogue between Rabat and Brussels to potentially align on common positions on major international issues. This dynamic could also involve the implementation of more integrated projects to strengthen the resilience of the Euro-Mediterranean space, particularly in economic, energy, and security domains.
