Macron Calls for Overhaul of France’s Relations with Morocco and North Africa

"Let’s be clear, bilateral relations are not at the level they should be, I won’t (re)convene each one here, but with Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Egypt, but also the countries of the Middle East," Emmanuel Macron said during the Conference of Ambassadors and Ambassadors on Monday, stressing that this is not, however, a "lack of commitment with many of them."

After mentioning the efforts made on memory issues or even economic ones, the French president believes there would be "a crisis in the region and its organization, where enmities are not absent," and where there are "multiple and heterogeneous difficulties." For him, it is therefore time to "very deeply rethink (our) partnerships in the Maghreb and the Mediterranean." "We will take several bilateral initiatives," he announced, wishing "that by the end of the year, under the authority of the minister, an intergovernmental revival agenda with the entire region or more broadly be consolidated."