EU grants additional 28m euros to Morocco

09/11/2007

The European Union pledged 28m additional euros in support of Moroccan reform programmes. The EU has already pledged to grant the country 654m euros until 2013 for these initiatives.

By Sarah Touahri for Magharebia in Rabat – 09/11/07

[Sarah Touahri] Ferrero-Waldner (left) shakes hands with Taieb Fassi Fihri

European Commissioner for External Relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner announced Thursday (November 8th) that the European Union has pledged 28m euros to Morocco for its efforts in development and co-operation, in addition to 654m euros in existing grants.

The supplementary amount is being given under a governance facility created as part of the European Neighbourhood Policy. This additional allocation of funds will help to support the implementation of numerous reforms included in the EU-Morocco action plan.

Ferrero-Waldner said Morocco is the first country to benefit from European Union funds in the region, thanks to its aggressive reform programmes. The EU has already pledged to grant the nation 654m euros until 2013 for these initiatives.

The European official began her three-day visit to the country by meeting with Prime Minister Abbas El Fassi to discuss the implementation of certain reforms. She told Magharebia that Morocco is a key partner for the European Union and has always been enthusiastic towards the neighbourhood policy. "The joint consideration process which we started back in July should allow us to take decisions concerning the future development of our bilateral relations, particularly in light of Morocco’s request for advanced status," she said.

Morocco harbours great ambitions for the European commissioner’s visit, which will give a new impetus to the strong partnership linking the two parties. Minister for Foreign Affairs and Co-operation Taieb Fassi Fihri said Morocco hopes to make progress towards an advanced status in line with its ambitions.

At the last association council meeting in July 2007, the European Union and Morocco decided to set up a work group to study ways of strengthening relations between the two parties. All member states of the European Union and the European Commission will be able to participate in the work group. The result of the joint deliberations will be presented at the next association council planned for 2008.

For Morocco, movement towards advanced status with the EU presents an opportunity to extend its access to the European market and to take a major step forwards with a view to further integration of its economy into the unified European market. Fassi Fihri stressed that advanced status is in the interest of the whole region. Its aim is to bring together efforts being made by countries on both sides of the Mediterranean.

The European Commissioner's visit is part of the continued strengthening of relations between Morocco and the EU. The two parties will proceed with a general evaluation of the implementation of the Morocco-EU accord and prospects for relations between the two parties as part of the European neighbourhood policy. They have touched on ways of strengthening co-operation between Morocco and the European Union in various sectors, particularly agriculture, education, justice, social development, water and energy.

Ferrero-Waldner expressed her satisfaction that co-operation between Morocco and the EU has expanded into new fields, with justice and social development high on the list of mutual priorities.