France-Morocco ties tested by Europe’s new industrial push
The French government is pushing for a fundamental shift in Europe’s industrial strategy, arguing that competitiveness can no longer rely solely on market openness and global competition. Instead, Paris advocates for a robust industrial policy that prioritizes European interests in strategic sectors while reducing reliance on external partners like China. At the heart of this push is the European Commission’s draft regulation aimed at accelerating industrial development—though its initial scope has been narrowed through internal negotiations. France is now pushing to expand these measures beyond clean technologies, high-energy industries, and electric vehicles to include shipbuilding, rail equipment, and chemicals.
These very sectors are where the industrial cooperation between France and Morocco has flourished over the past two decades. France maintains one of the most deeply integrated production networks with Morocco of any EU member state. This unique position places Paris in a delicate position: advocating for a stringent “Made in Europe” approach while simultaneously relying on a non-EU partner to bolster its industrial and economic resilience. The automotive sector exemplifies this dynamic. Renault’s factories in Tanger and Stellantis’ facilities in Kenitra operate as extensions of France’s production lines, with Moroccan-based suppliers directly feeding European industrial hubs.
This integration extends beyond traditional manufacturing. In aerospace, companies like Safran, Daher, and Latécoère have woven Moroccan industrial capabilities into their global value chains. Morocco is no longer just a low-cost production hub; it has become a critical node in France’s—and Europe’s—industrial competitiveness. Today, this collaboration spans high-stakes domains such as electric vehicle batteries, green hydrogen, critical materials, port infrastructure, and digital technologies.
“No other EU country has integrated its industrial apparatus with Morocco as deeply as France has.”
Paris insists its goal is not to isolate Europe but to prevent a diluted “Made with Europe” model that would dilute the effectiveness of European preference. The French strategy seeks to differentiate between partners that actively contribute to Europe’s competitiveness and supply chain security and those that remain mere external suppliers—or worse, potential threats to European sovereignty.
As EU member states prepare for a mid-July political assessment of the industrial acceleration regulation, the stance of Germany will be pivotal. Berlin has traditionally resisted French proposals for a more protectionist industrial stance, fearing retaliation from Beijing and harm to its export-driven automobile sector. Yet, mounting industrial challenges and domestic political pressures have compelled Germany to reconsider its free trade stance. Could a selective opening to trusted partners emerge as a compromise between Paris and Berlin? This question will shape the future of the Franco-Moroccan industrial partnership. While France has not explicitly named Morocco as a candidate for this privileged status, its broader industrial and diplomatic strategy positions the Kingdom as a natural fit.
The battle will also unfold in the European Parliament, where two French rapporteurs hold key roles in shaping the regulation. Their responsibility—and that of the French delegation—will be to ensure that the new regulatory boundaries being drawn do not inadvertently undermine the future of the Franco-Moroccan industrial alliance.
