Brussels, 07/03/2016 (Agence Europe) - Unanimous in their dispute of the ruling of the General Court of the EU on 10 December 2015 as regards the agricultural agreement connected with the Western Sahara (see EUROPE 11450), Morocco and the EU will together look for ways to contain the crisis, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini said during her visit to Rabat, on Friday 4 March, where she met her Moroccan counterpart, Salaheddine Mezouar.
At a final press conference, Mezouar clearly called for the General Court's ruling to be “corrected”, believing that it was more a political ruling than a judicial one and that “it is not limited just to a court case issue but is an extremely strategic issue”. The EU, for its part, took a step more in line with legal procedures, appealing the ruling on 26 February and underlining in the appeal that judicial decisions in Europe are independent. It seems that these “meetings have been frank and constructive”, Mogherini stated, being cautious on the form - although giving plenty of reassuring comments to those to whom she was speaking in Morocco. On 25 February, the Moroccan government decided to suspend all contact with the European institutions, with the exception of contact regarding this dispute (see EUROPE 11500).
“We agree on the fact that we understand our respective positions and that we will renew contacts in all areas. And we also agree on the fact that the key word in our partnership is 'trust' - a trust that we have today shared”, Mogherini said, underlining that the two parties want to strengthen their privileged links. She said she thought they had “supplied the necessary clarifications and assurances. Joint work was done to solve the crisis and save the spirit of the partnership”. “Regular dialogue and continuing transparent interaction will be set up”, she said. Mezouar will be in Brussels at the end of March “to finalise the content of this interaction with the European party”, Mogherini added without giving further details.
During the press conference, she said she was “well aware of the strategic importance of this issue for Morocco and also for the European Union”, and she underlined the fact that the agricultural agreement remains in force and that the EU “remains convinced that the agreements between Morocco and the EU do not constitute a breach of international law”. Mogherini added that the two parties had also addressed “other important bilateral and regional issues of mutual interest”.
As well as the ruling of the EU General Court on the highly sensitive issue of the Western Sahara, the continuing disagreements on trade in fruit and vegetables, particularly tomatoes, are another reason for tension between the EU and Morocco. Spain is on the front line against what these farmers perceive as invasive Moroccan competition. The Moroccan professional agricultural associations fear a rebound, due this time to Italy and also to Spain. Agrimaroc, an industry publication, said on 25 February that “Spain and Italy are calling on the Council of Ministers of the EU for protection of their tomato production against Moroccan imports” (see EUROPE 11505). Staff at the Council do not confirm this. The Moroccans, nevertheless seem certain of their information and state that Italy's Agriculture Minister Maurizio Martina, supported by Spain, asked the February Council “for better protection for tomato producers”. “We want the safeguard clause to be activated because of the bilateral agreements with the countries of North Africa, referring to the agreement with Morocco”, Martina is reported to have said. Agrimaroc also states that FEPEX, the Spanish federation of fruit and vegetable exporters, “told the European Commission in January that Morocco is not respecting its agreement” with the EU. According to the same source, FEPEX thought that comparing 2015 and 2014 there was a 35% increase in Moroccan sales which “flooded the European market”. FEPEX also reportedly asked “the protection measure to be applied that is provided for in Article 7 of the EU's memorandum of understanding with Morocco”. (Original version in French by Fathi B'Chir)