The French Prime Minister, Sébastien Lecornu, is leading an unprecedented high-level delegation to Morocco today for the 15th Franco-Moroccan High-Level Meeting (RHN). The visit underscores the deepening ties between France and Morocco, with twelve ministers accompanying Lecornu to Rabat, signaling a renewed commitment to bilateral cooperation.
The delegation includes key figures such as Laurent Nunez (Interior), Catherine Vautrin (Defense and Veterans Affairs), Roland Lescure (Economy, Finance and Industrial Sovereignty), Annie Genevard (Agriculture), Jean-Noël Barrot (Europe and Foreign Affairs), and Naïma Moutchou (Overseas Territories), among others. Senators and deputies, including Christian Cambon and Karim Ben Cheikh, will also participate in discussions with Moroccan parliamentary leaders.
a meeting poised to reshape bilateral relations
The 15th RHN, hosted at the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, marks a pivotal moment in the long-standing dialogue mechanism established in 1997. The last meeting took place in Paris in December 2019, making this gathering a significant milestone in Franco-Moroccan relations.
The timing aligns with the reinforced exceptional partnership agreement signed in October 2024 between King Mohammed VI and President Emmanuel Macron. This meeting aims to evaluate ongoing projects while setting new priorities for cooperation across multiple sectors.
key focus areas for the talks
The discussions will cover a wide range of critical topics, including:
- internal security and combating irregular migration
- fighting organized crime and drug trafficking
- cultural and agricultural exchanges
- infrastructure development and water management
- administrative modernization and artificial intelligence
- defense industries and preparations for the 2030 World Cup
Economic collaboration will also take center stage, with projects like the expansion of Safran Electronics & Defense’s industrial site and Alstom’s new production facility in Fès already underway.
expected outcomes of the meeting
The agenda includes bilateral talks between the two prime ministers, sector-specific ministerial meetings, a plenary session on shared priorities, and a closing presentation by the foreign ministers. A highlight will be the signing of approximately fifteen agreements in strategic areas such as:
- decentralized cooperation
- Rabat’s Regional Express Rail (RER)
- water resource management
- development of the Casablanca-Settat region
- civil aviation and cinema
- artist residencies and Arabic language education in French schools
The meeting also sets the stage for a future Franco-Moroccan bilateral treaty, designed to solidify the partnership ahead of King Mohammed VI’s upcoming state visit to France.
