Brussels, 07/06/2013 (Agence Europe) - Saad Eddine Othmani, Moroccan Foreign Minister, signed an agreement on mobility on Friday 7 June, in Luxembourg (on the sidelines of the JHA Council).
The day before he had been greeted in Brussels by the EU representative, Catherine Ashton, and the Parliament speaker. Ashton spoke of intense relations with Morocco, described as a “key partner”. She welcomed the new steps taken in recent months to intensify the existing cooperation still further: - the EU-Morocco Action Plan 2013-2017, the first round of negotiations for a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (DCFTA), and the signing of a mobility agreement in Luxembourg on Friday with nine member states. She congratulated Morocco for its reforms and pledged full political and financial support from the EU.
Parliament President Martin Schulz took the view that there will always be difficulties or points to discuss but that generally speaking relations between Morocco and the EU remain “privileged”. (FB/transl.jl)