Morocco-EU partnership receives 3.7 billion dirhams in support for national water policy
via Le Matin3 min read
Morocco is set to receive 3.7 billion dirhams in European support for its national water policy, a program under the "Team Europe" approach. This funding includes 48 million euros in EU grants and three concessional loans of 100 million euros each from the French Development Agency AFD, Italy's Cassa Depositi e Prestiti CDP, and the German development bank Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau KfW. The initiative aims to assist Morocco in implementing public water policies focused on four key priorities: improving knowledge of water resources in the face of climate change, strengthening the management of extreme events like droughts and floods, protecting water resource quality and biodiversity, and preserving groundwater resources. This European support aligns with the Morocco-EU Green Partnership, signed in October 2022, and the Pact for the Mediterranean, adopted in November 2025, both of which prioritize climate resilience and water resource management. It also reinforces Morocco's National Water Plan and the 2020-2027 National Program for Drinking Water Supply and Irrigation PNAEPI. During the launch ceremony, Minister of Equipment and Water, Nizar Baraka, emphasized that water is a heritage to be preserved for future generations and a sovereignty issue for Morocco, guided by the vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI. He noted Morocco's proactive approach to drought through deep transformation of its water model, with this program extending national efforts to enhance resilien
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The exhibition "États de passage," curated by Achraf Remok and presented at the Villa des arts in Rabat as part of the Institut français du Maroc's cultural season, explores the experiences of a new generation of artists. These artists, who have studied in cities like London, Brussels, or Paris and work between locations such as Rabat, Marseille, Zurich, or Casablanca, maintain strong ties to their origins. The exhibition highlights their mobility, diverse influences, and how they integrate multiple cultural heritages without being confined to a single identity. Thirteen artists, including Amina Azreg, Hanane El Farissi, Hiba Baddou, Hind Moumou, Joséphine Vallé Franceschi, Kamil Bouzoubaâ-Grivel, Maïssane Alibrahimi, Margaux Derhy, Rida Tabit, Sabrine Lahrach, Samy Snoussi, Yasmine Hadni, and Zineb Mezzour, born between 1985 and 2000, are featured. Their works, spanning photography, experimental cinema, painting, digital arts, installation, embroidery, and sculpture, explore themes of memory, displacement, transmission, and belonging. Many artists trained at international institutions like the Royal College of Art in London or La Cambre in Brussels, while others developed their practices independently. Some live between Morocco and Europe, while others work in less central artistic locations. Margaux Derhy's work, for example, involves a collaborative embroidery workshop in Sidi R'bat, where women participate in the artistic choices, fostering economic autonomy and preservin
Must ReadThe Norwegian Football Federation NFF announced it has raised 4.5 million Norwegian kroner, equivalent to over 400,000 euros, for Médecins Sans Frontières MSF operations in Gaza. This sum was generated from the full proceeds of the 2026 World Cup qualification match between Norway and Israel, played on October 11, 2025, in Oslo, supplemented by additional contributions. The net profit from the match was 522,000 Norwegian kroner, or approximately 47,000 euros. The NFF then added one million kroner from its own funds, bringing its direct donation to 1.5 million kroner, about 135,000 euros. A major Norwegian economic actor, whose identity was not disclosed, contributed an additional three million kroner, increasing the total amount mobilized to 4.5 million kroner. NFF President Lise Klaveness stated that the federation aimed to convert potential match profits into humanitarian support for the civilian population in Gaza, choosing MSF for its daily on-the-ground medical and emergency aid. Lindis Hurum, Secretary General of Médecins Sans Frontières in Norway, welcomed the contribution, noting its importance given the significant medical and humanitarian needs after more than two years of conflict, and confirmed it would support the organization's operations for affected populations.
Morocco has recovered nine fossils, approximately 72 million years old, returned by French authorities as part of bilateral cooperation on cultural and natural heritage protection. The fossils were seized in February 2025 by French customs services in Menton, southern France, during an attempted illicit trafficking operation. They were intercepted in an express freight truck traveling between Spain and Italy. The recovered lot includes nine Late Cretaceous fossils, dating back 66 to 72 million years, comprising dinosaur teeth, teeth of extinct marine reptiles, and specimens from species related to crocodile ancestors. All these fossils originate from the Moroccan geological basin. The Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication stated that this restitution resulted from close coordination between Moroccan and French authorities, aligning with both countries' efforts to combat illicit trafficking of cultural property and preserve Morocco's natural and geological heritage. This operation highlights the increasing importance of protecting Moroccan fossils, which are frequently sought after in international markets due to their scientific and heritage value. Authorities emphasize that these remains are national heritage, and their preservation is crucial for research and future generations. This restitution reaffirms Morocco and France's commitment to international cooperation in heritage protection.