On Friday, King Mohammed VI of Morocco defended the “partnership” with Spain but firmly rejected any attempt at “pressure” or “blackmail” in the wake of the Ceuta migration crisis in late July, referring to Spanish criticism of Morocco’s handling of the situation.

This is the first time the monarch has spoken out on the events in Ceuta, which have strained relations between the two countries.

Cooperation with international partners

“In the face of irresponsible statements from certain political and media circles and their blatant exploitation of the situation, we affirm that the partnership is a sovereign choice and a voluntary commitment, which cannot be subject to any pressure or threat, nor to any blackmail,” Mohammed VI declared before Parliament as he opened the new parliamentary session.

On July 30 and 31, more than 70,000 migrants entered Ceuta—a Spanish enclave in North Africa—by swimming or on foot from Morocco.

Since then, the vast majority have returned to Morocco, but several thousand remain in Ceuta, where the situation has deteriorated.

Accused by several Spanish political leaders of having encouraged this influx of migrants, Morocco rejected any involvement in early September and denounced attempts to make it a “scapegoat” in political “settling of scores” in Spain.

Strategic Vision

The king stated that the partnership with Madrid had seen “significant progress,” including in the fight against irregular migration, but that it now faces “major challenges.”

He referred to “certain outdated legal provisions” in reference to Spanish court rulings that complicate the return of migrants to Morocco.

King Mohammed VI finally announced that Morocco will present to its partners “a document setting forth a clear and practical strategic vision that charts a new course aimed at promoting co-development, economic competitiveness, and regional stability.”

Youth and Public Policy

The king emphasized the need “to make youth-related issues a top priority in public policy.”

“Young people will thus be more confident in their ability to climb the social ladder and will have greater faith in their country’s institutions,” he said.

The King believes it is necessary to place youth-related issues at the forefront of public policy and the concerns of governing bodies through “the development of an integrated vision that guarantees equal opportunities and encompasses education, skills development, and economic integration.”

The Moroccan monarch went on to emphasize that “the real challenge of the next phase is the local action that must be carried out on the ground to identify the real problems in each region and find realistic solutions for them,” adding that “the promotion of integrated development, the improvement of the quality of public services, and the encouragement of productive investment are closely linked to the process of advanced regionalization and thew implementation of administrative deconcentration.”

“The delays and shortcomings that continue to hinder the implementation of decentralization and administrative deconcentration are affecting socioeconomic development programs and preventing us from addressing citizens’ real concerns,” noted King Mohammed VI.

Message to the new government

As the country’s first-ever female head of government, Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri, continues her negotiations to form her cabinet, the Sovereign stated that “the opening of the new legislative session is an opportunity for Us to congratulate the members of the House of Representatives for the trust that voters have placed in them,” adding that “this term of office comes at an exceptional juncture, rich in opportunities that may not arise again and that must be seized to sustain the momentum of achievements in various fields.”

“Today, in addition to moving forward with the infrastructure projects on the agenda, a new generation of major strategies must be launched, particularly in the sectors of water, energy, and food security; industrial development; the digital economy; and artificial intelligence,” the King stated.

At the same time, he called for “greater speed in developing the Kingdom’s capabilities to build strategic reserves and secure the supply of essential goods.”

King Mohammed VI also urged the private sector to strengthen its role as a strategic player in the transformation taking place in our country as a result of its development. “We also encourage it to be more enterprising, more creative, and better able to create job opportunities and develop its investment and export capabilities,” he added.