The 15th Franco-Moroccan High-Level Meeting (RHN) kicks off Thursday in Rabat, gathering French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu and a dozen cabinet ministers. This biannual dialogue platform, established in 1997, follows the previous session held in Paris in December 2019.

This edition marks a pivotal moment in the renewed Franco-Moroccan partnership launched nearly two years ago. Both delegations will assess progress on the “enhanced exceptional partnership” signed in October 2024, covering strategic cooperation across multiple sectors.

The day begins with bilateral talks between the two heads of government, followed by sector-specific working sessions between French and Moroccan ministers. The agenda includes a plenary session where both sides will present joint priorities for the coming years.

The meeting concludes with a joint press conference before a working lunch hosted by His Majesty King Mohammed VI and attended by the Moroccan head of government.

A dozen agreements across key sectors

Around 15 cooperation agreements are expected to be signed, focusing on decentralized cooperation, railway infrastructure with plans for a Rabat regional express network (RER), water management, development in the Casablanca-Settat region, civil aviation, culture, and education.

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

Defense collaboration will also see progress, as both countries seek to expand cooperation in armaments and defense industries, identifying new partnership opportunities.

Cultural exchanges will receive particular attention, including new artist residency programs, strengthened film and audiovisual collaborations, and a strategic partnership between the Arab World Institute and Morocco’s Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication.

French delegation includes 13 ministers

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu leads the French delegation, accompanied by twelve ministers: Laurent Nunez (Interior), Catherine Vautrin (Armed Forces), Roland Lescure (Economy and Industrial Sovereignty), Jean-Noël Barrot (Europe and Foreign Affairs), Catherine Pégard (Culture), Philippe Tabarot (Transport), and Anne Le Hénanff (AI and Digital).

Senator Christian Cambon, chair of the France-Morocco friendship group in the Senate, and MP Karim Ben Cheikh will also participate in meetings with Moroccan parliamentary leaders.

As part of the official program, the French delegation will visit the Mohammed V Mausoleum to pay respects to Morocco’s founding monarchs.

This RHN session comes between two state visits: the French president’s trip to Rabat in October 2024 and King Mohammed VI’s upcoming visit to France. The meeting aims to lay groundwork for future bilateral treaty negotiations and deepen strategic cooperation.