These resources will encourage the production of green energy, indicated the President of the European Commission during a trip to Morocco. The Cherifian kingdom wants to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 45.5% by 2030. It has set itself the goal of increasing the share of renewable energies to more than 52% by 2025.
It is Europe’s answer to China’s Belt and Road. Morocco will be among the first African country to receive funding under the “Global Portal” project, an infrastructure development program. The President of the European Commission (EC), Ursula von der Leyen, traveled to Rabat on 9 February. During this visit, the German leader met the head of government, Aziz Akhannouch, as well as the Minister of Foreign Affairs Nasser Bourita.
“Morocco is a country with which we have built a strategic, close and solid partnership”, stressed the European official, who also announced that the European Union (EU) wishes to continue to deepen its relations with Morocco “by as neighbors, as partners and as friends. Statements to which the head of the Moroccan government responded by indicating that he “seriously ensures the strengthening of this relationship to which His Majesty King Mohammed VI attaches very particular importance”.
“Green and digital transition”
The primary objective of this partnership is to support Morocco in its energy transition. The Cherifian kingdom wants to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 45.5% by 2030. It has set itself the goal of increasing the share of renewable energies to more than 52% by 2025.
The two parties are already cooperating in the development of social connectivity through a digital partnership. “A lot can be done to further integrate our economies and better adapt them for the benefit of our companies, their employees and all workers”, estimated the President of the EC, underlining “the attention paid by the EU to the role of youth and their crucial contribution to the progress of our societies as well as to the efforts to be made to offer them the best future”.
The Alliance of Unions
On February 10, Ursula von der Leyen will meet the Senegalese head of state Macky Sall, who has just taken over the rotating presidency of the African Union. This exchange comes a few days before the summit between the European Union and the African Union, which will be held in Brussels in mid-February.
“The summit is expected to identify the first set of strategic interventions in the areas of infrastructure, value chain development, private sector, vocational training, and health,” said the EC President, quoted by the AFP. During her stay in Senegal, she will also participate in an official ceremony inaugurating the initiation of the NDICI (for an instrument of the neighborhood, development cooperation, and international cooperation)-Global Europe MADIBA project (Manufacturing in Africa for Disease Immunization and Building Autonomy, or Producing in Africa to strengthen vaccination and autonomy), to which the EU will provide financial support for the construction of a production plant for vaccines against COVID-19 and other diseases.
Getting out of addiction
The funds for the “Global Gateway” come from the European Union’s own resources (18 billion euros in subsidies), financing granted by the 27 Member States, as well as funds from European financial institutions (145 billion euros of investments) and national development institutions (135 billion euros), supported by private investments. The aim is to rely on public and private sector investment as an alternative to Chinese loans.
“Investment options in Africa too often include hidden costs. The financial, political, environmental, and social costs are sometimes very heavy. These options are often more addictive than realties,” said Ursula von der Leyen. Thus, the EU is also considering the possibility of setting up a European export credit facility in order to complete this system.
