The European Union’s Assistance to Morocco (1999–2011): Strategic Directions, Priority Areas, and Main Outcomes

The European Union — the world’s largest collective donor — directs much of its assistance to the Middle East and North Africa countries. The Kingdom of Morocco is, however, a special case among the EU partners in the MENA. It was the first Southern Mediterranean country to receive a status of a ‘privileged partner’ back in the 2000s, and has been the largest beneficiary of aid from Brussels ever since. The paper identifies strategic directions, priority areas, and main outcomes of the EU assistance programs in Morocco in 1999–2011, from the King Mohammed VI’s ascension to throne to the Arab Awakening. Special attention is paid to the evolution of motives behind the EU assistance and changes in the nature of aid programs implemented in Morocco in interrelation with the political processes within the country. The author examines aid delivery mechanisms, distribution of aid through the Government and to civil society institutions in Morocco, as well as terms of such assistance. The paper also considers balance between the so called policy assistance aimed at strengthening the justice sector, promotion of good governance and so on, on the one hand, promotion of economic and social development and security sector reforms — on the other. The conclusion is drawn that in their efforts to ensure further liberalization of Morocco the EU leaders tend to rely on the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP), the privileged partnership, social, economic and institutional support rather than on programs directly aimed at democracy promotion. This approach stems largely from the intent to promote political stability in the Kingdom of Morocco — the EU key partner in countering such transnational threats as illegal migration and terrorism. This approach (typical of the EU cooperation with other autocratic regimes in the MENA, both monarchiсal and republican) explains a relatively low-key reaction of the EU bureaucrats to the slowdown — of the liberalization processes in the 2000s, which occurred in the face of unfolding war on terror and resulted in Morocco being affected by the Arab Awakening.

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