The European Union has pledged €200 million to assist Morocco with post-earthquake reconstruction, bringing total aid to €1 billion. Despite this support, relations between Morocco and the EU are strained due to a legal dispute over Western Sahara and trade agreements.
The European Union has pledged €200 million ($210 million) to assist Morocco in rebuilding after the devastating 6.8 magnitude earthquake that struck on September 8, 2023. The announcement was made by EU Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, Oliver Varhelyi, during a press conference in Rabat on Monday.
The earthquake, Morocco's deadliest since 1960, killed over 2,900 people and caused extensive damage to critical infrastructure. In response, Morocco has outlined a five-year reconstruction plan aimed at upgrading key infrastructure across the country.
Varhelyi also revealed that the EU's total aid for Morocco's earthquake recovery will reach €1 billion. This follows a history of strong economic ties, with Morocco receiving €5.2 billion in EU investments over the past five years.
Despite the financial support, relations between Morocco and the EU face challenges due to recent legal disputes. The European Court of Justice annulled fishing and agricultural agreements between the two parties, citing issues related to products from the disputed Western Sahara region.
The long-standing conflict over Western Sahara, which began in 1975, pits Morocco against the Polisario Front, an independence movement backed by Algeria. Morocco views Western Sahara as part of its territory, while the Polisario Front seeks an independent state.
In light of the court ruling, Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita emphasized the importance of protecting Morocco's territorial integrity, stating that "there will be no partnerships at the expense of Morocco's territorial integrity." He also underscored the need for EU-Morocco relations to be shielded from "judicial harassment."
Despite these tensions, Morocco has strengthened its ties with Spain and France, both of which have backed Morocco’s autonomy plan for Western Sahara, further complicating the geopolitical landscape.
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Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has slowed, according to the latest data, as uncertainty over the waterway’s reopening kept most shipowners away. Six commodity vessels crossed the strait on Tuesday, down from nine the day before and below the 10-day daily average of 11.
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains limited on Thursday, with no increase in vessel crossings as U.S.-Iran talks to resolve the conflict remained stalled. Nine commodity vessels transited the key waterway on Wednesday, unchanged from the previous day, according to Kpler data.
Iran has said the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the U.S. fulfils the terms of an interim deal, including lifting the maritime blockade and sanctions and releasing Iran’s frozen assets.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 19th of August, covering the latest developments.
Australia on Thursday condemned Israel’s decision to close its criminal investigation into the deaths of Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom and six World Central Kitchen colleagues killed in Gaza in April 2024.
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains limited on Thursday, with no increase in vessel crossings as U.S.-Iran talks to resolve the conflict remained stalled. Nine commodity vessels transited the key waterway on Wednesday, unchanged from the previous day, according to Kpler data.
North Korea has fired more than 10 short-range ballistic missiles after U.S. President Donald Trump reduced American participation in joint military exercises with South Korea in an effort to revive dialogue with Pyongyang.
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