Brussels, 17/07/2013 (Agence Europe) - “In the context of the current crisis, the region needs Morocco more than ever”, stated Bernardino Leon, the special representative for the Mediterranean of High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton, when he was visiting Rabat last week. Leon discussed security in the region with Morocco's Minister Delegate for Foreign Affairs Youssef Amrani, after speaking about bilateral cooperation between the EU and Morocco - which Amrani described as exemplary. Morocco is considered as an “exceptional” partner for the EU, said Leon, quoted by the MAP news agency. Amrani and Leon spoke of the “convergence of views on the need to accompany strongly, and very supportively, the transition countries of the region, making use of the regional dimension of the European neighbourhood policy”. Amrani called on the EU “to invest more, alongside the five countries of the Maghreb”.
Leon participated in a meeting the following two days on “the Moroccan-Spanish initiative on promoting mediation in the Mediterranean” - a meeting also held in Rabat. A demonstration took place a few days before the visit of the Spanish king, Juan Carlos, and the resumption of EU-Moroccan negotiations on fishing on 18 July. The end of the fishing negotiations is eagerly awaited by Spanish fishing operators. (FB/transl.fl)