Brussels, 15/04/2014 (Agence Europe) - Feelings are running a little higher in Morocco, following the proposed modification to the regime of access to the Community fruit and vegetables market for third countries. The producer associations and exporters of Morocco are protesting and commenting in almost all media of the kingdom against this measure, which promises “serious tension” in relations with the EU.
The consequences: recent declarations intimating that Morocco would take its time to implement the fisheries agreement with the EU. A meeting of the joint fisheries committee due to take place in the next few weeks and expected to give the final green light to the application of the agreement is to be “delayed”, according to the secretary general of the ministerial departments of fisheries, Zakia Driouich, quoted by the official news agency MAP.
“What is the European Union playing at?”, asked an economic weekly magazine, quoting the vice-president of the inter-professional federation of fruit and vegetables of the country, Mounir Omar, who described it as a “powerful political message confirming today that we have granted advantages in the framework of the fishing agreement which perhaps we should not have granted. We must review our position in light of recent events”.
Late last week, the prime minister called a meeting with the European ambassador to Rabat, Rupert Joy. The minister for agriculture, Aziz Akhannouch, also expressed his deep disappointment: “A relationship of trust and ongoing partnership has been jeopardised”, he said. Europe's actions are “as astonishing as they are incomprehensible on the part of an historic partner”. He described it as “a step backwards in negotiations which have brought Moroccan and European leaders together over a long period”.
The chair of the committee for agriculture, rural development and fisheries, Ahmed El Amrani, said that “Moroccan agriculture is of very high quality compared to European agriculture, which explains this attempt which targets our agriculture”. He said that “all farmers and agricultural associations of the kingdom are prepared to react against this decision, or even to boycott all raw materials imported from the EU”. The spokesperson to the government, Mustapha El Khalfi, said last week that “the government has chosen to adopt a clear and firm position to defend Morocco's interests and those of the Moroccan people” and that “measures will be taken over the next few days”, according to media reports. (FB)