The autonomy initiative proposed by Morocco to put an end to the conflict around the Sahara is the only way to sustainable peace and cooperative development in the Mediterranean region, said the secretary general of the Istiqlal Party (PI) and Minister of Equipment and Water, Nizar Baraka.
Intervening at the annual conference of the European People’s Party (PPE) held in Valencia on April 29 and 30, 2025, Baraka reaffirmed the crucial importance of the autonomy initiative proposed by Morocco. Against the backdrop of persistent tensions, he described this initiative as ” The only real way to put an end to the conflict that has slowed a whole region for more than five decades“, While stressing that it was not simply a question of resolving an old conflict, but of” Build a future for the two banks of the Mediterranean« .
Baraka also recalled the broad international support in favor of this initiative, expressed by the United States as well as 22 member countries of the European Union and other nations around the world.
At the same time, The secretary general of the PI has put forward the strategic role of Morocco on the European scene, in particular through the electrical interconnection with Spain, which makes the kingdom a key player in the energy security of Europe. The manager notably mentioned Morocco’s ambitions to position himself as a world leader in the field of green hydrogen, supported by consequent natural resources and a large -scale gas pipeline.
-Bilateral cooperation between Morocco and Spain has borne fruit, contributing to a significant reduction in irregular passages to land borders. This dynamic of cooperation was presented by Baraka as a partnership model in the face of contemporary challenges, especially in the fields of security, energy, competitiveness and peace.
Stressing the importance of the Morocco-Nigeria pipeline project, led under the aegis of King Mohammed VI, Baraka said that this project will not only strengthen energy security in Europe, but will also provide an essential energy to twelve African countries, thus supporting their economic development.
As part of the attractiveness of investments, the Minister said that Morocco had become a destination of choice for European investments. With its cars’ battery factories, its aeronautical industrial zones and its world-class logistics platforms, the kingdom is positioning itself as a competitive industrial hub, he highlighted.
Baraka has not omitted to remember that 52% of electricity production in Morocco would come from renewable sources by the next year, reflecting the country’s commitment to sustainability. The joint organization of the 2030 Football World Cup with Spain and Portugal symbolizes, according to him, the spirit of integration and partnership between Africa and Europe.
