On 16 and 17 January, Federica Mogherini had an official visit to Morocco. The Moroccan PM, El Othmani, welcomed her in Rabat. She met also the King of Morocco Mohammed VI, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Minister of Interior, the President of the Parliament and Civil Society representatives. On Wednesday, the European Parliament voted with a large majority (444 to 167) the agriculture agreement that extends to the disputed territory of Western Sahara. HRVP Mogherini welcomed the vote by the European Parliament and called for renewed discussions on advancing the strategic partnership between the EU and Morocco. On the EU side, the next step needed will be the Council approval. While Moroccan authorities unanimously welcomed this development, the Polisario movement published a press release in which it expressed its disappointment claiming that it was «a direct blow not only to human rights defenders and international law, but to the very UN-led peace process that the EU says it supports».

Earlier this week, on Monday, a new fisheries agreement between Morocco and the EU was signed in Brussels by the Permanent Representative of Romania to the EU Luminita Teodora Odobescu (representing the Presidency of the Council of the European Union) and the Moroccan Secretary-General of the Maritime Fisheries Department Zakia Driouch. This new agreement replaces the previous one that expired in July 2018. Under this agreement, European vessels are provided access to Moroccan waters in exchange of a an annual compensation of €52 million from the European Union. It will enter to force after the approval by the European Parliament that is expected on 11 February.