Brussels, 05/05/2014 (Agence Europe) - The official information and commentary on the anticipated delay in the implementation of the fishing agreement between the EU and Morocco has baffled Moroccans.
“There is a ratification procedure underway” and there is no reason to speed this up, as its pace depends on the agenda of the head of state, who has a great many other issues of concern to be dealing with, an authorised source stated.
Among these causes of concern to Rabat is the question of agriculture. The recent restrictive Community measures appear to be worrying the authorities of the Kingdom, due to the economic and social impact of the decision made by the EU on Moroccan exports of fruit and vegetables, particularly tomatoes.
The government is “resolved to defend the interests of Moroccan farmers”, Minister for Communication and government spokesperson Mustapha El Khalfi said on Friday 2 May, quoted by the media of the Kingdom. The country is, the minister added, “aware of the potential impact of the change to the access price system for Moroccan fruit and vegetables on the EU market”. He is working to conclude an agreement “which preserves the competitiveness of national agricultural produce and defends the interests of Moroccan farmers”. The minister went on to say that “the stakes are high. The tomato sector is under the threat of the loss of 30,000 direct and indirect jobs and the repercussions of the reforms brought in by the EU could cause losses of 130,000 tonnes of this product”.
The change in the customs clearance method (“in breach of the European customs code, the WTO rules and, in particular, the Euro-Moroccan association agreement”, according to a Moroccan expert) for this perishable product comes under particular fire for having been adopted without any proper attempt at consultation, Rabat argues. The Moroccan media have had a field day with this dossier. Logically, an association committee is likely to be convened to discuss it.
The ambient feeling is that Morocco has struck a “fool's bargain”. This is as true for agriculture and fishing as it is for trade and services. In Morocco and Tunisia, there are reservations over the potential benefits of the deep and comprehensive free-trade agreements (DCFTAs). This is also the case in the field of immigration, where the EU is seeking to push through readmission agreements, which are generally seen by the countries on the southern shore as aiming to move the holding centres, which Europe cannot politically defend against its own opinion, to the partner countries.
The general feeling is that the EU is turning away from the region. “Too many announcements, too much discourse, not enough concrete action”, was how one source put it. (FB)