Morocco wants advanced status with the EU. Europe supports Morocco’s EU partnership aspirations. Morocco says that the status will help to integrate the two economies and broaden the access to the community’s markets. High ranking European Union representatives and European foreign ministers arrived in Rabat on Monday to discuss the issue. The European dignitaries underlined their support of the Moroccan initiative.
Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Taibe Fassi-Fihri stated that his aim is to join the regional efforts of the southern countries with those of the north. He also says that the advanced status for Morocco is in the interests of the whole region. All the European officials in attendance voiced their support of Morocco’s plans and stressed the importance of co-operation in maintaining peace and stability in the region.
European Commissioner for External Relations and Neighborhood Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner stated that the EU is happy with Morocco’s development saying it was a special partner in a number of fields, especially in the fight against terrorism and illegal immigration. She went on and discussed Moroccan history of co-operation on security issues and in its role in the joint effort to streghten the monitoring of dual-use goods and fight against terrorism.
Spanish Foreign Minister, Miguel Angel Moratinos, promised that Spain and Morocco will work together in order to establish such advanced status. He said his government will make necessary efforts to help during Spain’s EU presidency in 2012.
The European Union along with Morocco agreed in July 2007 during meetings in Brussels to set up ad hoc committees to consider changes to the current Association Agreement. France is set to chair the Morocco-EU Association Council and will look further into this possibility. A series of meetings will communicate the ad hoc committee’s ideas to the EU members and seek their approval.
The first task will be to seek approval for the political reforms Morocco has introduced to encourage greater Morocco government democracy and modernization of the society such as the programs to modernize the judiciary and introduce more independence and impartiality.
…more on Morocco and EU Relations
by Carole Morris
