French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu arrives in Rabat this Thursday at the helm of a high-powered delegation of twelve ministers. The occasion marks the 15th Franco-Moroccan High-Level Meeting, a landmark event poised to inject fresh momentum into the strategic partnership between France and Morocco.
An all-star ministerial delegation
The French delegation includes key figures such as Laurent Nunez (Interior), Catherine Vautrin (Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs), Roland Lescure (Economy, Finance and Industrial, Energy and Digital Sovereignty), and Jean-Noël Barrot (Europe and Foreign Affairs). Also on board are Annie Genevard (Agriculture), Naïma Moutchou (Overseas Territories), Catherine Pégard (Culture), Philippe Tabarot (Transport), and Sabrina Roubache (Vocational Training). Junior ministers include Anne Le Hénanff (Artificial Intelligence and Digital), Nicolas Forissier (Foreign Trade and Attractiveness), and Éléonore Caroit (Francophonie, International Partnerships and French Abroad).
Senator Christian Cambon, Chair of the France-Morocco Friendship Group in the Senate, and MP Karim Ben Cheikh will also join the delegation. The two parliamentarians are scheduled to meet the Presidents of both chambers of Morocco’s Parliament during their visit.
Strategic cooperation takes center stage
The 15th High-Level Meeting, held at the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs with both heads of government in attendance, signals the resumption of this long-standing dialogue mechanism first established in 1997. The last edition took place in Paris in December 2019.
This gathering follows the enhanced strategic partnership signed in October 2024 between King Mohammed VI and President Emmanuel Macron. Its primary goals are to assess the progress of ongoing projects and chart new priorities for bilateral cooperation.
Key areas of focus
Discussions will span a wide range of critical sectors, including:
- Domestic security and combating irregular migration
- Fighting organized crime and drug trafficking
- Cultural exchanges and agricultural cooperation
- Infrastructure development and water resource management
- Administrative modernization and artificial intelligence
- Defense industries and preparations for the 2030 FIFA World Cup
Economic momentum
Several transformative projects are already underway, such as the expansion of Safran Electronics & Defense’s industrial site and Alstom’s new manufacturing initiative in Fès.
The agenda includes bilateral talks between the two Prime Ministers, sectoral ministerial meetings, a plenary session on shared priorities, and final presentations by the foreign ministers.
A new chapter in bilateral relations
The meeting is expected to conclude with the signing of around fifteen agreements across key sectors, including:
- Decentralized cooperation
- Rabat’s Regional Express Rail (RER) project
- Water resource development
- Growth initiatives in the Casablanca-Settat region
- Civil aviation cooperation
- Film industry collaboration
- Artist residency programs
- Teaching Arabic and geography in French schools
Beyond short-term outcomes, this gathering represents a significant milestone in preparations for a future bilateral treaty between France and Morocco. The treaty aims to solidify long-term collaboration ahead of King Mohammed VI’s upcoming state visit to France.
