The 15th High-Level Franco-Moroccan Meeting (RHN) will take place on Thursday, July 16, as French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu leads a high-powered delegation to Morocco. This landmark event, first launched in 1997, follows the last session held in Paris in December 2019 and reflects the ongoing effort to strengthen bilateral ties between the two nations.

The visit marks a pivotal moment in the renewed Franco-Moroccan partnership, which gained momentum after the signing of an enhanced cooperation agreement in October 2024. The agenda includes bilateral talks between the two prime ministers, followed by meetings between French and Moroccan ministers across key sectors.

The plenary session of the RHN will be co-chaired by both heads of government, who will review progress on shared priorities and chart the course for future collaboration. The meeting will conclude with a joint press conference, where key outcomes will be announced, followed by a luncheon hosted by His Majesty King Mohammed VI.

Nearly 15 agreements spanning critical sectors

French and Moroccan officials are set to sign nearly 15 agreements across strategic areas, including decentralized cooperation, railway infrastructure with plans to develop a Regional Express Network (RER) in Rabat, water management, and the economic development of the Casablanca-Settat region. Additional agreements will focus on civil aviation, cultural exchanges, and education.

Energy cooperation will take center stage, with discussions on potential electric interconnection projects between Morocco and France. This initiative builds on the energy partnership agreement signed during the French president’s state visit to Morocco in October 2024, which emphasized energy connectivity and the transition to cleaner energy sources.

Defense collaboration will also feature prominently, as both countries seek to deepen cooperation in defense procurement and industrial partnerships, identifying new opportunities for joint ventures.

The cultural sector will see new initiatives, including artist residency programs, expanded film and audiovisual exchanges, and a strategic partnership between the Arab World Institute and Morocco’s Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication.

A high-level French delegation

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu will be joined by 12 ministers, including Laurent Nunez (Minister of the Interior), Catherine Vautrin (Minister of the Armed Forces and Veterans), Roland Lescure (Minister of Economy, Finance, and Industrial Sovereignty), and Jean-Noël Barrot (Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs). Other key figures include Catherine Pégard (Minister of Culture), Philippe Tabarot (Minister of Transport), and Anne Le Hénanff (Minister Delegate for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Affairs).

Senator Christian Cambon, Chair of the France-Morocco Friendship Group in the Senate, and Deputy Karim Ben Cheikh will also participate, meeting with leaders of Morocco’s parliamentary chambers.

As part of the visit, the delegation will pay a solemn tribute at the Mohammed V Mausoleum, laying a wreath in honor of Morocco’s founding monarchs.

The 15th RHN comes on the heels of President Emmanuel Macron’s state visit to Rabat in October 2024 and ahead of King Mohammed VI’s upcoming visit to France. The meeting aims to lay the groundwork for the next phase of the Franco-Moroccan partnership, including preparations for a future bilateral treaty.