Belgium has called for a stronger and more operational partnership with Morocco, as Brussels seeks to position itself among the Kingdom’s top ten economic partners and expand cooperation into new strategic sectors, including ahead of the 2030 World Cup.
Speaking Monday in Rabat, Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Affairs and Development Cooperation Maxime Prévot urged both countries to reinforce their partnership “with conviction and reliability,” following talks with Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates Nasser Bourita.
Prévot emphasized the need to ensure the full implementation and operationalization of commitments contained in the Joint Declaration signed on October 23 in Brussels, describing it as “a concrete, ambitious, and balanced turning point in a strategic partnership.”
On the economic front, Prévot voiced Belgium’s ambition to become one of Morocco’s top ten economic partners, praising Rabat’s efforts to support and facilitate the integration of Belgian companies into its business ecosystem.
In a significant announcement, he revealed plans to organize a large-scale Belgian economic mission to Morocco in 2027. The delegation will include business leaders and economic stakeholders, with the aim of consolidating and expanding bilateral investment and trade ties.
According to the Belgian minister, the mission is expected to open new avenues for cooperation across multiple sectors. He also pointed to the 2030 FIFA World Cup—co-hosted by Morocco—as a key opportunity for collaboration in sports technologies, infrastructure development, and security solutions.
Beyond trade and investment, Prévot highlighted the multidimensional nature of Morocco-Belgium cooperation, placing particular emphasis on security collaboration.
He underscored the growing importance of coordination between the two countries in addressing shared challenges such as drug trafficking, transnational crime, terrorism, and radicalization. Enhanced cooperation between security services, he said, is “valuable and essential” in confronting these threats.
On migration, Prévot noted that structural dialogue between Rabat and Brussels will continue, stressing that both countries are working “with humanity and responsibility” to streamline procedures and manage migration flows while respecting human dignity.
Addressing the issue of the Moroccan Sahara, Prévot reiterated Belgium’s “clear and constant” support for Morocco’s Autonomy Initiative under Moroccan sovereignty. He added that Belgium intends to align its diplomatic and economic actions with this position.
In a move carrying both symbolic and practical implications, the Belgian official announced that Belgium has extended its consular coverage, confirming that the Consulate General of Belgium in Rabat now covers the entire territory of the Kingdom, including the Moroccan Sahara region.
He further disclosed that the Belgian ambassador in Rabat is set to visit the Sahara region in the near future to prepare and support economic initiatives. These include visits by Belgian companies and the organization of economic fairs in coordination with the three regional development agencies. Several Belgian firms, he noted, have already expressed interest in launching projects aligned with Morocco’s development priorities.
“Morocco and Belgium share more than a diplomatic relationship,” Prévot said, highlighting historical ties, shared values, and a common vision for a modern and forward-looking partnership.
The announcements signal a new phase in Rabat-Brussels relations, marked by a push to translate political alignment into tangible economic outcomes—an effort that could gain momentum in the lead-up to 2027 and the strategic opportunities surrounding the 2030 World Cup.
