Brussels, 26/02/2016 (Agence Europe) - The Moroccan government has officially “reiterated its total rejection of the ruling of the General Court of the European Union of 10 December 2015” (see EUROPE 11450) and “decided to suspend all contact with the European institutions, with the exception of the exchanges expected on this issue”. The EU ambassador in Rabat, Rupert Joy, was summoned immediately and received notification of this decision.
At the end of a Council session of the Moroccan government on Thursday 25 February, the minister for communication read a long statement which was apparently more a plea than an announcement breaking off relations. Shaken by the ruling of the EU General Court, which affects a pillar of Morocco's general policy, domestic and foreign, on the Western Sahara (the sovereignty of which is disputed), the Moroccan government “denounces the highly political nature of this decision, its unfounded arguments, its flawed logic and its conclusions that run counter to international law and in disagreement with the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council”.
“While taking note of the swift and unanimous response of the Council of the EU against this ruling, the government expresses its deep disappointment with regard to the unclear management that some services of the EU have undertaken on this issue”. The Moroccan government recalls the role that it plays and thus does “not accept being treated as a simple object of a judicial procedure, nor being reduced to being shuffled between the different services and institutions of the EU. The continuation of such an attitude risks compromising mutual trust on a long-term basis and the sustainability of the partnership. The Kingdom (of Morocco) is entitled to require loyal and responsible interaction from the EU in the next phases of the procedure”. Thus “while awaiting the necessary explanations and assurances from the European side, the government has decided to freeze all contact, including with the European delegation based in Morocco”.
At midday on Friday, the European External Action Service (EEAS) responded by giving assurances that the EU will remain in relationship with the Moroccan authorities in the coming days. The EEAS added: “We are ready to provide additional clarification and assurance to Morocco's concerns so that our contact and cooperation might be fully re-established as soon as possible”. The Council responded swiftly to the decision of the General Court of the EU on 10 December regarding application of the agricultural agreement with Morocco (see EUROPE 11453) by deciding unanimously to appeal this decision. “This appeal has now been lodged”. The European response attempts to reassure the Moroccans: “The EU and Morocco have developed a lasting partnership over many years (…) We are convinced that a true partnership involves listening, sharing, solidarity and mutual respect between partners. Since December, many contacts have taken place at all levels between the EU and Morocco on this issue and Morocco has been fully informed throughout the process, in the framework of the legal constraints that apply”. In conclusion, the EEAS states: “We will assess the implications as quickly as possible for our current cooperation programmes”. The affair could become even more complicated because a similar complaint has been made to the General Court of the EU on the fishing agreement. Another difficult issue, that of the access of Moroccan fruit and vegetables - especially tomatoes - also continues to be highly sensitive. (Original version in French by Fathi B'Chir)