On Thursday, July 16, French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu will lead a high-profile official delegation to Morocco for the 15th edition of the High-Level Franco-Moroccan Meeting (RHN). The delegation will include twelve ministers, marking a significant step in strengthening bilateral ties between the two nations.
The RHN series, established in 1997, serves as a cornerstone for strategic dialogue between France and Morocco. This edition follows the previous meeting held in Paris in December 2019 and reflects the ongoing efforts to revitalize their exceptional partnership, which has been in development since late 2024.
The visit will commence with bilateral discussions between the heads of government, followed by sector-specific meetings between French and Moroccan ministers. These exchanges aim to review progress under the Enhanced Exceptional Partnership and outline future priorities.
The main event will be the plenary session, co-chaired by both prime ministers. Each ministerial pair will present bilateral outcomes and shared priorities for the coming years. The session will conclude with a joint press conference, where key agreements will be announced before a luncheon hosted by King Mohammed VI.
key agreements and sectors of cooperation
A total of fifteen agreements are expected to be signed across multiple critical sectors. These include:
- Decentralized cooperation initiatives to support local development
- Rail infrastructure, notably the development of a Regional Express Network (RER) in Rabat
- Water resource management and sustainable development in the Casablanca-Settat region
- Civil aviation cooperation enhancements
- Cultural exchanges, including artist residency programs and strengthened ties in cinema, audiovisual, and gaming
- Education and youth programs, with a new strategic partnership between the Arab World Institute and Morocco’s Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication
Energy collaboration will also take center stage, with discussions on potential electric interconnection projects between the two countries. This builds on the energy cooperation framework established during the French President’s state visit to Morocco in October 2024. Defense cooperation will focus on strengthening dialogue around armaments and the defense industry to explore new collaboration opportunities.
delegation highlights and diplomatic engagements
The French delegation, led by Prime Minister Lecornu, includes twelve government members and two parliamentarians:
- Laurent Nunez (Minister of Interior)
- Catherine Vautrin (Minister of Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs)
- Roland Lescure (Minister of Economy, Finance, and Industrial Sovereignty)
- Jean-Noël Barrot (Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs)
- Catherine Pégard (Minister of Culture)
- Philippe Tabarot (Minister of Transport)
- Anne Le Hénanff (Delegate Minister for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Affairs)
- Christian Cambon (Senator, Chair of the France-Morocco Friendship Group in the Senate)
- Karim Ben Cheikh (Deputy, participating in parliamentary exchanges)
In a gesture of respect, the delegation will visit the Mohammed V Mausoleum to pay tribute to the architects of modern Morocco. This visit precedes scheduled reciprocal state visits—the French President’s return to Rabat and the Moroccan Monarch’s upcoming visit to France—aimed at advancing the bilateral treaty framework.
