EU tightens Moroccan ties with 'advanced status' deal

The EU is set to offer Morocco ‘special partnership status’ in a move widely seen as signifying the start of closer links between the 27 member bloc and North Africa.

EU foreign ministers under the auspices of the EU-Morocco Association Council met on Monday in Luxembourg to propose a package of measures to strengthen relations with Rabat, the first major changes in the EU’s relationship with the country since it entered into an association agreement with Brussels over ten years ago.

The new 'advanced status' for Morocco will mean an increase in EU aid for the country, participation in several European agencies and a more favourable position overall than other countries in the EU’s neighbourhood policy, including Israel and Ukraine.

Following the council meeting, external relations and neighbourhood policy commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner, said she welcomed the decision to upgrade Morocco’s relationship with the EU.

“Morocco is undertaking a raft of reforms in all areas. It has asked for advanced status in our neighbourhood policy, stronger links with Europe to consolidate what has already been achieved and to give fresh impetus to its modernisation and democratic transition process.”

“The commission has done its utmost to respond to Morocco's expectations and we have made a great many proposals in the areas that are within our competence. I welcome their adoption today by the Association Council.”

The proposals include the establishment, on an ad hoc basis, of an EU-Morocco summit, and an invitation for Morocco to be present in the wings of a number of EU council ministerial or working group meetings.

Economically, both partners will seek to a develop a deeper free trade agreement covering new areas  such as public procurement, intellectual property rights, capital movements, competition and sustainable development.

Writing in the latest issue of the Parliament Magazine, Casablanca-based euronews reporter Martin Jay says the change in relations with Morocco is just one step in the EU’s plans to dramatically increase trade with the countries of North Africa.

“The bigger picture is that by 2012, the Barcelona process will pave the way for the EU’s boldest international move yet – to create a single free-trade area with most of these North African countries, which in itself has huge implications for immigration and further cultural integration.”

“But it’s Morocco that stands tall as a leader in the region, and the first to step forward as a key benefactor of special neighbour status in the form of a new trade agreement – due to be signed in January 2009 – giving it many privileges as a trading partner with the EU.”.

“The ‘advanced status’ the EU is to grant Morocco will be a precedent for all Euromed countries and will be very closely watched, particularly by Tunisia and Egypt. Algeria will also raise a weary eyebrow on the process, as some hope Algiers might soon join the EU’s own neighbourhood policy.”

“Yet Morocco’s economy – and its neighbours – will accelerate regardless, when more of the country’s citizens are allowed to live and work in Europe, sending more hard currency back home,” he adds.

“In Rabat, the government has been making real progress securing a new deal with the EU allowing more Moroccans to work in Europe. You just have to mention the words “immigration quotas” to EC mandarins working on the dossier – and to hear their swift denials – to realise that this is what is really important for Rabat.”

To read the full text of Martin’s Jay’s article in the latest issue of the Parliament magazine, click here.

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