Brussels, 19/06/2014 (Agence Europe) - Morocco is piling the pressure on the EU and, in a press release quoted by the media (our translation), its Ministry for Agriculture and Fisheries called, on Wednesday 18 June, for the “EU to respect its commitments laid down in the agreements and treaties signed with Morocco”. The European Commission in particular is called upon to “take its responsibilities on this dossier as soon as possible”.
The call comes as, according to recent informal statements to the media, Morocco is considering bringing the matter before the WTO to rule on this contentious dossier. According to the ministry, Moroccan fruit and vegetables “have had a change in the export regime imposed upon them, decided unilaterally by the EU, contrary to the agricultural agreement in force”.
However, “technical discussions” continue between Rabat and Brussels. “In order to get round the situation of deadlock, the department for agriculture submitted a balanced proposal during these talks, in line with the European rules”, said the Moroccan ministry. “This situation has caused a lack of visibility for the Moroccan professional sector and has called into question the foundations of the trade relations linking the two sides in the agricultural sector”. (FB)