The former vice-president of the Socialist Group in the European Parliament (EP), Elena Valenciano, published an article on Saturday under the title “And if our future went through the South” in the newspaper El Pais.
In this article, Valenciano stressed the role of Morocco as a reliable and essential partner for Europe, as it is the first “link and anchor” of the Euro-African partnership.
The former Socialist spokeswoman in the Spanish Congress of Deputies noted that it is with Morocco that neighbourhood cooperation with Europe is most advanced. Thus, she noted that the destinies of Europe and Africa are linked.
She added that the difference in culture is not always a difference in choice or conviction, but the difference with Morocco nourishes complementarity in order to advance towards a beneficial cooperation in understanding.
Elena Valenciano also pointed out that the changing contexts have changed the diplomatic vocation of the European Union and require a revision of the cooperation frameworks, both in terms of scope and content.
The Spanish Presidency of the EU Council would be the right moment to innovate with Morocco, Valenciano said, arguing that Spain is the EU country that best understands Morocco and could take advantage of the developments in its relations with the southern neighbour to take the lead in the Euro-Mediterranean project with Morocco.
Morocco is a reliable and credible partner that can honour its part of our shared responsibility with regard to issues of common concern to the European Union and the African continent.
Indeed, security, migration, energy, education, the fight against terrorism and economic development are at the heart of the dialogue between Europe and Africa, and their serious handling brings serenity to the EU and development to Africa.