Brussels, 07/12/2009 (Agence Europe) - Morocco and the EU have expressed their great satisfaction at the progress made in their relationship and, in particular, in the setting in place of an "advanced status", which will involve Morocco in practically all Community economic, social, regulatory and normative programmes and policies as well as issues related to security. This was stated after the eighth session of the Association Council, which was held in Brussels on Monday and chaired on the European side by Franck Belfrage, Swedish Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, and on the Moroccan side by Taïeb Fassi Fihri, Foreign Affairs Minister. The two ministers announced that a "Summit", the first with a country of the region, would take place in the course of the first half of 2010 under the Spanish Presidency.
Both sides were fulsome in their praise of progress made, as was the European Commissioner for External Relations, Benita Ferrero Waldner. However, she mitigated the feeling of general satisfaction by reiterating that negotiations on trade in services and the right of establishment were still to be concluded. Morocco is called upon to open up its markets to European services. Ms Ferrero-Waldner also spoke in favour of the rapid conclusion of negotiations on agriculture and a readmission agreement (necessary for Morocco to readmit sub-Saharan migrants transiting by their territory). As regards financial assistance, the EU "highlighted Morocco's good performance in implementing the cooperation programmes. Its absorption capacity for Community aid and the consistent progress of structural reforms were described as satisfactory".
At the final press conference, the Moroccan minister reported back on exchanges of views on the political situation in Morocco, the Western Sahara, the Maghreb countries, the Arab world and the Middle East in general. Questions raised about the Palestinian dossier were not rewarded with individual responses, beyond a petitio principii on the necessary support for the peace process and a need for inter-Palestinian reconciliation. Mr Belfrage referred the questions until the next day. On Tuesday, Carl Bildt, the head of Swedish diplomacy and President of the Council, is to clarify the European position, in which a considerable change is anticipated, in practical terms the recognition of East Jerusalem as the capital of a future Palestinian State (EUROPE 10034). (F.B./trans.fl)