The European Union’s new representative to Morocco, Bulgarian diplomat Dimiter Tzantchev, officially took office on September 1.
He arrives in Rabat at a time of geopolitical shifts in the Mediterranean and Africa, with a mandate to strengthen the strategic partnership between the EU and Morocco.
Dimiter Tzantchev has held several key diplomatic roles, including being a Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and an Ambassador to Israel for Bulgaria. From 2012 to 2021, he served as Bulgaria’s Permanent Representative to the European Union, where he was a leading negotiator. He joined the European External Action Service in 2021 before being appointed to his new role.
Tzantchev stated that he is “determined to build on the richness of our relationship with Morocco and take it into a new chapter, based on a strategic and comprehensive partnership.” His goal is to both strengthen the long-standing relationship, which has been in place since the 1996 Association Agreement, and explore new areas for cooperation.
Tzantchev has outlined several priorities for his tenure, including focusing on the development of green hydrogen and renewable energies, supporting Morocco’s industrial growth, and working on social and job creation initiatives.
The EU views its partnership with Morocco as a key factor for stability in a region facing a security crisis in the Sahel and tensions in the Maghreb. Tzantchev said that “strong and close cooperation can bring lasting stability and prosperity” to both the EU and Morocco. He also plans to promote public diplomacy to make the benefits of the Euro-Moroccan relationship more visible to the public.
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