{"id":4819,"date":"2026-03-04T18:37:17","date_gmt":"2026-03-04T18:37:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/4819\/"},"modified":"2026-03-04T18:37:17","modified_gmt":"2026-03-04T18:37:17","slug":"belgium-supports-the-autonomy-plan-and-plans-investments-in-the-sahara","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/4819\/","title":{"rendered":"Belgium supports the autonomy plan and plans investments in the Sahara"},"content":{"rendered":"

\tSupport for the autonomy plan and investment in the Sahara<\/a><\/p>\n

\tBelgian visits strengthen partnership with Morocco<\/a><\/p>\n

\tConvergence of vision at the international level<\/a><\/p>\n

In recent years, relations between Morocco and Belgium have experienced a very positive dynamic, according to Nasser Bourita, Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Abroad<\/a>, speaking in Rabat.<\/p>\n

Brussels not only renewed its support for the autonomy plan presented by Rabat, but also committed to extending its consular services to exercise full authority throughout Moroccan territory, including the Sahara.<\/p>\n

Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Maxime Pr\u00e9vot affirmed his country’s intention to channel economic initiatives towards the southern provinces of Morocco, in search of investment opportunities in the Sahara.<\/p>\n

With a clear convergence of vision at the international level, Belgium will organise a series of visits to the North African country in order to strengthen its strategic partnership with Morocco through the organisation of economic fairs and trade missions.<\/p>\n

\"Nasser
\nNasser Bourita, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Morocco, and Maxime Pr\u00e9vot, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belgium \u2013 PHOTO\/X\/MAROC DIPLOMATIE\/@MarocDiplomatie<\/p>\n

Support for the autonomy plan and investment in the Sahara<\/p>\n

The Kingdom of Belgium reaffirmed in Rabat its clear and constant support for the Moroccan autonomy initiative, which it considers to be \u2018the most appropriate, serious, credible and realistic basis for reaching a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution to the Sahara conflict\u2019.<\/p>\n

Following his talks with the Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Abroad, Nasser Bourita, the Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Affairs and Development Cooperation, Maxime Pr\u00e9vot, stressed that Brussels intends to implement its position of support for the autonomy plan in both the diplomatic and economic spheres.<\/p>\n

Thanks to the unprecedented momentum in bilateral relations between the two countries, and given the existential nature of the Sahara issue for the North African country, Belgium explicitly places this region within the framework of Moroccan national unity. Brussels therefore reiterated that its Consulate General in Rabat is competent for the entire Moroccan territory, including the Sahara, without any regional distinction.<\/p>\n

\ud83c\uddf2\ud83c\udde6-\ud83c\udde7\ud83c\uddea M. Nasser Bourita s’est entretenu, ce jour \u00e0 Rabat, avec le Vice-Premier Ministre et Ministre des Affaires \u00e9trang\u00e8res, des Affaires europ\u00e9ennes et de la Coop\u00e9ration au d\u00e9veloppement du Royaume de Belgique, M. Maxime Pr\u00e9vot pic.twitter.com\/okPM4CM5hZ<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Maroc Diplomatie \ud83c\uddf2\ud83c\udde6 (@MarocDiplomatie) March 2, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

In this regard, the Moroccan diplomat urged Belgian investors to explore the great opportunities offered by the southern provinces, noting that Belgium ranks 13th on the list of Morocco’s trading partners and 17th on the list of investors.<\/p>\n

The areas of interest for Belgian investors are focused on renewable energy, infrastructure, industry and green hydrogen as promising avenues for bilateral engagement, with the southern provinces seen as a gateway for Belgium to consolidate its trade ties with West and Central Africa.<\/p>\n

In the context of economic and trade cooperation, Bourita indicated that Belgium is an essential and important partner of the Kingdom of Morocco in the financial, tourism, trade and investment fields, clarifying Morocco’s ambition to place Belgium among the Kingdom’s top ten partners.<\/p>\n

For its part, Belgium reaffirmed its willingness to become an important partner in the economic sphere thanks to the promising opportunities offered by bilateral economic cooperation and the preparatory work for the organisation of the 2030 World Cup<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Bourita_belgica\"
\nNasser Bourita, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Morocco, and Maxime Pr\u00e9vot, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belgium \u2013 PHOTO\/X\/MAROC DIPLOMATIE\/@MarocDiplomatie<\/p>\n

Belgian visits strengthen partnership with Morocco<\/p>\n

After Finland reinforced its support for the Moroccan autonomy plan, Belgium announced preparations for a state visit with royal representation to Morocco in the spring of 2026, during the current legislative term.<\/p>\n

The meeting between Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Pr\u00e9vot and his Moroccan counterpart was intended to give concrete form to the joint declaration signed on 23 October 2025 in Brussels. The aim of this visit is to strengthen bilateral cooperation between the two kingdoms.<\/p>\n

In a context of intense bilateral relations, marked by Belgium’s support for Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara, the Belgian mission focuses on strengthening strategic partnerships between the two countries, particularly in the energy, logistics and security sectors.<\/p>\n

Bourita stated that \u2018the Kingdoms of Morocco and Belgium are called upon to strengthen their partnership with determination and reliability,\u2019 adding that \u2018the Belgian-Moroccan agreement seeks to establish a comprehensive security dialogue, modernise judicial cooperation and deepen migration cooperation.\u2019<\/p>\n

For his part, Pr\u00e9vot maintained that \u2018multidimensional cooperation between Morocco and Belgium must be consolidated, especially in the areas of security and migration, in order to address common threats such as drug trafficking, cross-border crime, terrorism and extremism.\u2019<\/p>\n

As part of the visits scheduled for this purpose, the Belgian ambassador to Morocco, Gilles Heyvaert, announced the organisation of a Belgian economic mission to Morocco in 2027, which will be composed of senior officials and economic actors, with the aim of consolidating the Moroccan-Belgian partnership.<\/p>\n

\u2018This mission will open up new opportunities for both countries, given the organisation of the 2030 World Cup, which provides an opportunity for cooperation in the areas of sports technologies, infrastructure and security technologies,\u2019 Heyvaert added.<\/p>\n

The Belgian ambassador will soon visit the Sahara region to prepare and support various economic initiatives, including visits by Belgian companies and the organisation of economic exhibitions for the three regional agencies in the southern provinces, in a positive response to the aspirations of the Moroccan kingdom.<\/p>\n

\"Obras
\nWorks on the Atlantic Port of Dakhla – PHOTO\/ARCHIVE<\/p>\n

Convergence of vision at the international level<\/p>\n

At the international level, Nasser Bourita stressed the importance of the convergence of views between Morocco and Belgium on the Palestinian cause, advocating for stability in Gaza following the significant progress made in the area.<\/p>\n

In this regard, Bourita considered it essential to establish a clear political horizon for the two-state solution as an unavoidable foundation for lasting peace in the Middle East, reiterating the positions expressed by King Mohammed VI before the sovereigns, emirs and heads of state of the countries victimised by Iranian aggression.<\/p>\n

Among the regional and international issues of common interest to Rabat and Brussels, Africa stands out as a notable point of convergence for both parties, given Belgium’s strong relations with the African continent on the one hand, and the fundamental role of the Kingdom of Morocco under the leadership of King Mohammed VI in preserving security and stability and promoting development in Africa on the other.<\/p>\n

The two diplomatic chiefs emphasised the importance of establishing a bilateral security dialogue to address current challenges, highlighting the crucial role of close cooperation between the two countries in the fight against illegal immigration.<\/p>\n

In terms of migration, Belgium has a community of Moroccan origin numbering 800,000 people living on Belgian territory. This Moroccan diaspora therefore represents a pillar of considerable weight in bilateral relations, requiring joint coordination to ensure the integration of this category, without losing sight of the preservation of their identity and authentic Moroccan values<\/p>\n