During the early years of late President Francois Mitterrand's term in power, the socialists at the Elysee Palace surprised Morocco in regard to at least two issues. Back then, there were fears that Paris might take positions in contradiction with the rightist movement, which was more open towards Rabat. The drought and lack of rain had cast negative shadows on the economy of Morocco, which depends on agriculture. However, the socialists opened the French and European warehouses and they supplied Morocco with large quantities of wheat at low prices. Further, the proportion of the military debts owed by Morocco had exceeded the normal levels due to the escalation of the Desert War. Nevertheless, this did not prevent the signing of additional military deals between the two countries. Francois Mitterrand pushed Morocco to brandish the choice of international legitimacy. Decades have elapsed since these developments, which saw a notable contradiction in positions concerning the improvement of Morocco's records when it comes to the respect of human rights. However, the relations between the two countries never lost their friendly aspect despite the presence of blame. Rabat tried to bring an end to France's monopolization of its external commerce and started looking for new partners. France tried all the possible formulas in order to establish a balance in its connections with the North African countries, especially with Morocco and Algeria. Not much changed in the strategic directions. The Morocco of the 1980s is no longer the same. Nevertheless, Rabat's errors when it comes to the human rights' record are still the same, especially publication and freedom of expression issues, in addition to problems regarding economic and social rights, as these represent the criterion for real progress. The Socialists at the Elysee Palace are unlikely to use an opposition tone of voice now that they have modified their positions. However, they have some engagements that must at least contradict with the politics of Nicolas Sarkozy. Even if this is not a major contradiction, it is one that does imply some change. When it comes to relations between the countries, there are some interests that impose themselves. For decades, prominent French politician Chaban-Delmas had insisted that Morocco and France are not only joined by history, but also by their geographic location whereby the two countries, along with Spain, overlook the Atlantic coast. This implies that this axis, which extends throughout the north and south of the Mediterranean Sea, may form a space for dialogue and co-existence. This could be one of the many reasons that pushed Morocco once to try its luck by asking for joining the European club. This was more like a dream, but the joining of Spain and Portugal to the common European market revived the hopes that joining the European body will result in better circumstances on the road of progress although the economic and financial crises lived by several European countries such as Greece, Italy, and Spain flipped this equation. The Moroccans cannot possibly ignore the French or even the Spanish role that gave them the opportunity to look at Europe from an advanced position. The neo-French cannot revoke the geography of the expansion that puts North Africa in a somehow equal position with the horizontal opening to the Eastern European countries. Such facts will have a positive impact on the Moroccan-French relationship path, regardless of the internal commitments that brought President Francois Hollande to power. However, countries that practice self-help and that find their own way are the countries which impose a dialogue of equals and a partnership on the others. And since the French are more aware than anyone else of the problems of the Maghreb region, which is still paying the price of the colonization sentiment in the past phase, then the dialogue between France and its partners must turn from a limited bilateral aspect into a more global regional dialogue. The Maghreb Union must play an effective role in that dialogue by pushing in the direction of forming a collective bloc in order to make the whispers heard; or by overcoming the barriers that prevented the North African countries from having a better position in their relationships with the European Union. The regional dialogue was only limited to expressing good intentions and shiny promises such as the experience of the ‘Union for the Mediterranean.' The paradox of that dialogue is that the Maghreb countries act as if the European space is limited to four or five capitals as the result of the historic and economic connections. France, the leader of this group, is forced to hold a dialogue with Germany and to look in the direction of the USA. One of the disadvantages of this un-equal dialogue between the Maghreb and Europe is that Paris is controlling the situation in the countries of the southern shore of the Mediterranean based on the situation in the Elysee. The time has come to replace old policies with new aspirations. Major goals cannot be achieved by anything less than policies that comprehend the logic of self-reliance. A French proverb says that anyone who jumps in the sea must swim. Are we not at the doors of the summer of political swimming?
