The Atlantic Initiative from Morocco aims to extend the Atlantic Arc into Africa, creating a space for human communion, an economic integration hub, and a center of continental and international influence for the countries along the African Atlantic coast and the landlocked Sahel states.
Championed by King Mohammed VI, the Atlantic Initiative opens a new era of North-South dialogue and cooperation, aiming to energize relations between Europe and Africa. Florence Kuntz, former Member of the European Parliament and member of the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly, emphasizes that this initiative « paves the way for the co-construction of a Europe-Africa macro-region. »
The Atlantic Europe region includes countries such as Spain, Portugal, France, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Norway, and Iceland, forming a geographical and community space. The Atlantic Maritime Strategy allows the coastal regions of these member states to optimize European funding to develop the marine and maritime economy. Established in the late 1980s, the « Atlantic Arc » cooperation association voluntarily groups regions with access to the Atlantic Ocean.
This space, stretching from Scotland to Andalusia over 2,600 km, is home to nearly 60 million inhabitants and covers about 20% of European territory. Florence Kuntz notes that « only oceanic belonging, the strengths and weaknesses of this geography justify the creation of this regional sub-group. »
Morocco’s Atlantic Initiative could extend this Atlantic Arc into Africa, sharing with neighboring African Atlantic coastal countries and the landlocked Sahel states a « high place of human communion, an economic integration hub, and a center of continental and international influence. » Kuntz adds that « with a shared ocean come shared challenges, » highlighting the importance of co-constructing responses to issues facing coastal regions, such as transport, renewable energy, climate change, fishing, biodiversity, and coastal tourism.
Among the symbolic projects is the Atlantic Port of Dakhla, scheduled for completion in 2028, which will include trade, fishing, shipbuilding, and a 1,600-hectare industrial and logistics zone. This port will serve as a gateway to the African continent and an attractive hub for foreign investors, particularly within the framework of the African Continental Free Trade Area.
Another significant project is the Nigeria-Morocco Atlantic Gas Pipeline, which will run along the west coast of Africa and connect to the European gas network. Kuntz also highlights the importance of the 2030 World Cup, co-hosted by African and European countries, as an « extraordinary tool of Atlantic soft power. »
With a new European mandate, the Atlantic Arc stakeholders, weakened by Brexit, are seeking to give new dimensions to the Atlantic Maritime Strategy. They urge the Council and the European Commission to grant them Macro-Region status to better define the geographical perimeter of the Atlantic space and strengthen European funding for structural projects.
In his speech on November 6, 2023, King Mohammed VI reminded that « through its Mediterranean coast, Morocco is firmly anchored to Europe. » With its initiative for the Atlantic Africa, the Kingdom aims to tighten the bonds between the two continents. Florence Kuntz concludes by calling on future EU leaders to « set their sights on the Atlantic. »
Source : apanews
