News
Tuesday 16 December 2014

The 12th session of the Morocco-EU Association Council

Vocal synthesis
The 12th session of the Morocco-EU Association Council

EU To Back Substantially Morocco's Immigration Policy

 The EU intends to back substantially the new Moroccan immigration and asylum policy which has clear goals and provides for concrete actions, mainly in terms of immigrant integration and the recognition of refugee status.

In its final statement following the 12th session of the Morocco-EU Association Council, on Tuesday in Brussels, the Union voiced its will to assist Morocco in carrying out this policy given that the Kingdom is the first north African country to adopt a real immigration policy, including the creation of an office for refugees and the setting up of a system to fight human trafficking.

 On the global turndown, the EU member states underlined Morocco's strong economical resilience. "The good performance of the Moroccan economy over the past years could be explained by the cautious management of public finances and the implementation of government program on structural reforms," wrote the statement. 

 The EU noted, however, the persistence of some challenges as the continuation of fiscal consolidation which seems to be on the right track and the reinforcement of competitiveness to attract foreign investments.

 Referring to the fight against terrorism, the EU called for further developing cooperation between Morocco and the Sahel-Saharan region in order to efficiently combat terrorist networks.

 

 The EU deemed that north Africa represents a priority zone in the fight against terrorism, lauding Morocco's efforts in terms of preventing violent radicalism and extremism.

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Morocco’s Human Rights Efforts Highlighted At Morocco-EU Association Council

Morocco’s efforts to promote human rights, democracy and the rule of law were highlighted on Tuesday in Brussels during the 12th session of the Morocco-EU Association Council.

Speaking on this occasion, Bouaida presented to European partners the reforms undertaken by Morocco to advance human rights and consolidate democracy and the rule of law as well as the mechanisms undertaken in that direction.

During the meeting, Bouaida shed light on the different aspects of the Morocco-EU partnership notably at the economic and social levels as well as in the fields of immigration and mobility. 

 

Bouaida also expressed satisfaction at the EU’s support for the projects launched as part of the Advanced Status granted to Morocco in 2008.

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EU Reiterates Long-Term Engagement With Morocco

The European Union reiterated on Tuesday its long-term engagement with Morocco, insisting that the EU-Morocco partnership has a fundamental value in the European neighborhood policy.

"The European Union reiterates its long-term engagement with Morocco and with reforms that Morocco has chosen to conduct, mainly regarding the implementation of the 2011 constitution", the 28 member-states stated in the final declaration adopted at the end of the 12th session of the Morocco-EU association council held in Brussels.

The EU recalls the visits by high ranking officials along 2014 that helped consolidate the EU-Morocco political and strategic dialog on both bilateral issues and questions of shared interest.

The declaration also notes that Morocco has carried on its reforms process, scoring important results, the document noted citing, in this context, the enforcement of a new migration and asylum policy, reforming the military justice law and other reforms contained in the constitution that are on the way of being enforced, including justice, advanced regionalization and the press code revision.

The EU also encourages Morocco to speed up implementing the new constitution by accelerating the enactment pace of other laws stipulated in the constitution and establishing the relevant structures and mechanisms.

The Morocco-EU association council's 12th session was held one year after the adoption of the 2013-2017 work plan for the advanced status, a framework to coordinate the EU's efforts to support priority sectors and projects in Morocco.

 

Partnership between the two sides started in 1969 when Morocco and the EEC signed a trade agreement. Since then, ties have been steadily evolving to a cooperation agreement in 1976 and an association agreement in 1996, before a neighborhood work plan is reached in 2005 and before Morocco is granted in 2008 the advanced status in its relations with the EU.

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Morocco-EU Partnership Reaches 'Great Maturity'- FM

The Morocco-EU partnership has reached "great maturity", Foreign Minister Salaheddine Mezouar said on Tuesday in Brussels.

"We are very satisfied with relations between Morocco and the EU which is reflective of the maturity of our partnership," Mezouar said at a press conference at the end of the 12th session of the Morocco-EU Association Council.

"Morocco continues to implement large-scale reforms in all field," Mezouar said, noting that special attention will be given to human development and social and economic rights in line with the provisions of the new constitution.

The 12th session of the Association Council was an opportunity for Morocco to reiterate its commitment to continue on the reform path and reinforce its partnership with the EU.

The meeting also tackled common challenges facing Morocco and the EU in the region. In this respect, Mezouar said Morocco is willing to further cooperate with the EU to face security threats to the region, including terrorism and all sorts of trafficking.

On the situation in the Sahel and Africa, Mezouar shed light on Morocco’s multidimensional approach that incorporates the religious dimension along with human development and economic considerations through an active participation of the private sector and the exchange of expertise with countries in the region.

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Morocco Plays ‘Pivotal Role’ In Maghreb Integration

Morocco is playing a pivotal role in favour of regional integration in the Maghreb, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission, Federica Mogherini, said on Tuesday in Brussels.

 "The EU is attaching a particular importance to regional integration in the Maghreb for the purpose of which Morocco is playing a pivotal role," the EU’s foreign policy chief said at a joint press conference with Morocco’s Foreign Minister Salaheddine Mezouar at the end of the 12th session of the Morocco-EU Association Council.

Moghreni expressed satisfaction at the strategic partnership with Morocco, adding that the EU supports Morocco in the political, economic and social reforms it has launched to the best interest of the Moroccan people in line with strengthening democratic institutions and consolidating human rights.

The 12th session of the Morocco-EU Association Council was an opportunity to take stock of the progress made in all fields of cooperation and explore future prospects, she said.

The EU commends the progress made by Morocco in reinforcing its relations with the Council of Europe and the UN, said the EU official.

Moghreni said the security situation in the Sahara, the Sahel and Libya along with development, economic and social issues were raised during the meeting.

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Morocco-EU Association Council Annual Meeting Opens In Brussels

The 12th session of the Morocco-EU Association Council will be held on December 16 in Brussels, with the participation of a large Moroccan delegation chaired by Foreign minister Salaheddine Mezouar.

This meeting, the first with a southern neighbourhood country after the formation of the new European Commission, will be an opportunity for both parties to exchange views on the political and economic situation in Morocco and the EU.

The first session of the meeting will assess the progress made in relations between Morocco and the EU since the last session of the Association Council, held in December 2013, particularly with regard to the implementation of political, economic, social and human aspects in the Association Agreement and the Advanced Status action plan.

Morocco and the EU will examine prospects of the exemplary partnership existing between the two sides, in light of the objectives set by the new work plan for the advanced status.

Regional and international issues, such as integration in the Maghreb,  the Sahara issue and the situation in Sahel, Africa and the Middle East will be examined along with the means to consolidate collaboration.

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