EU grants additional 28m euros to Morocco
2007-11-09
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.
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acharif moulay abdellah bouskraoui Posted 2007-11-13
Morocco, under the leadership of His Majesty Mohammed VI, has made great steps in the domain of human rights, democracy and women’s rights and has made much progress in the socio-economic sector. Therefore, so that our efforts will bring about good results, we need strong support from Europe. We need the EU’s aid.
M'hammed Posted 2007-11-14
To Moulay Abdellah— I completely agree with you in what you said about the efforts which have born fruit, but I think that the time for counting on others has passed. We need to count on ourselves in the acquisition of knowledge, both professionally and in workmanship. We have all the ingredients necessary to succeed: the openness of our Monarch, the muscles of our youth, the knowledge of our intellectual and scientific elite and the experience of our seniors. You will see how no one else we come and offer you their help, except if they can make the ties the need in order to make a profit of our success. (Unfortunately, it is always a question of profit.) We need to take a proactive position instead of a passive one, getting help. All Moroccans need to pose JFK’s famous question to themselves every morning: “What can you do for your country?”
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