Hungary and Morocco strengthen their bilateral cooperation
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At a joint press conference with his Moroccan counterpart, Nasser Bourita, in Budapest on Wednesday, Minister Péter Szijjártó pointed out that, in addition to Europe, Africa is also among the losers of the war in Ukraine, and that skyrocketing inflation has presented both continents with serious challenges.
Péter Szijjártó then called illegal immigration an important common security challenge. He also reminded that Africa’s population will grow by 950 million by 2050, so policies that encourage people to leave their homes are very dangerous. According to him, on the contrary, a comprehensive strategy is needed for the development of Africa, within the framework of which Europe should cooperate with African countries with stable, strong economies, such as Morocco.
Besides, as he said, it is necessary to take decisive action against terrorism, one of the main causes of migration, and he also praised Morocco’s efforts in this area. He also reported that last year, Morocco became Hungary’s number one trading partner in Africa, and that trade turnover between the two countries has increased fivefold in the last fifteen years, its value now reaching USD 400 million per year.
During their discussions, Ministers Szijjártó and Bourita engaged in strengthening the bilateral ties between the two countries in the fields of trade and investment, research and innovation, as well as energy cooperation. An agreement for providing 165 fully funded scholarships by the Hungarian government to Moroccan university students in the framework of the Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship Programme for the years 2026-2028 was also signed during the visit.
Szijjártó said that Hungary considers the autonomy plan the basis for a solution to the Western Sahara conflict under the United Nations framework. He added that Hungary has taken note of the recent affirmations by the United States and France in support of the Moroccan initiative. The Hungarian minister also announced that he has instructed Hungary’s ambassador in Morocco to visit Morocco’s southern regions in Western Sahara, following the example of ambassadors from other major countries who have already made similar visits.
Hungary’s embassy in Morocco will now provide consular services to all Moroccan citizens across the country, Szijjártó added.
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There is no shortage of obscure countries with autocratic governments that Szijjarto shows up at to sign bilateral agreements. It becomes a joke. I do like Moroccan clementines which are shipped to Canada and are abundantly available in our grocery stores for low prices. Where does Hungary get the money to provide 165 fully funded scholarships to Moroccan students? Morocco is not the only country Fidesz has been throwing the money of struggling Hungarians to. Hungarians can’t feed themselves and Fidesz throws money to a long list of countries for what? For influence.