France, Morocco plan direct electricity link
Sebastien Lecornu, French Premier Minister, said that France and Morocco had 'asked for expressions of interests on Thursday' in an electricity interconnection project connecting the two countries as part of larger aims to strengthen ties?between Europe and North Africa.
Lecornu, speaking to reporters after a high-level Franco-Moroccan meeting in Rabat, said that the project was "ambitious economic projects" which create new synergies among our companies. It also allows us to integrate Morocco and France further into shared value chains.
A French document seen by the reporter aims to "identify commercially feasible ways to export renewable energy from Morocco to France".
Both countries have also signed cooperation agreements?covering civil aviation, finance, education, culture, and diplomacy.
Lecornu stated that the meeting was part and parcel of the preparations for the signing of a bilateral agreement, which would be the very first one signed by France outside the European Union.
The King Mohammed VI will sign the?treaty during a visit to France that has not yet been announced.
Since Paris recognized Rabat's sovereignty in the Western Sahara territory, the relationship between the two countries has improved.
"I reiterate here that this position remains unwavering." Lecornu stated that the position "will not change".
He said that the security cooperation with Morocco has led to "unprecedented successes" in recent weeks in combating organised crime and drug trafficking. He said the two countries are preparing a comprehensive agreement on security. Reporting by Ahmed El Jechtimi. Mark Potter, Tomasz Janowowski and Mark Potter edited the report.
(source: Reuters)
