The Moroccan Perception of the European Union

Abstract: The research area of this field study is external perceptions of the EU. Morocco is the specific target field and the material is gathered from semi-structured interviews with Moroccan university students. The aim has been to identify prevailing perceptions of the EU in accordance with role theory and in comparison with previous research. There are important political and economic ties between Morocco and the EU. The European Commission and other decision makers are increasingly interested in how the EU is perceived externally, not the least in North Africa after the Arab Spring, which is why this study is of particular relevance. This study has shown that the EU is mainly perceived in positive terms in Morocco, and believed to have something valuable to contribute. It is strongly considered to have the role of an economic power and as the most important counterpart at present. However, the EU is not seen as a normative power or as a postcolonial power, but it is considered to have some postcolonial tendencies. The EU is mainly only perceived credible in some aspects or credible if it benefits the EU itself. The Moroccan perception differs from previous research within the field.