Rabat, 15/01/2001 (Agence Europe) - The President of the European Commission, Romano Prodi, during his official visit to Morocco, raised with King Mohamed VI the prospects of the concluding of EU/Morocco fishing agreement. The Commission spokesperson indicated, in Brussels, that, on this occasion, the desire to conclude had been confirmed at the highest level, but no date had been indicated for the continuation of negotiations (see EUROPE of 12 January, p.9).
During his visit, Romano Prodi signed with the Prime Minister Abderrahmane Youssoufi three financing conventions under the MEDA I and MEDA II programmes (2000-2002). The first foresees a subsidy of 52 million aiming to improve the functioning of the Moroccan financial system, notably by enhancing the effectiveness of the control bodies, by favouring the disengagement of the State from banking activities and the reinforcing of competition, competitiveness and innovation in the financial services and products. EUR 50 million have also been granted for the development of generalised medical coverage, and in particular to allow to finalise the laws and decrees relating to the functioning of health insurance. Finally, EUR 7 million will go to social housing and the fight against unfit housing in the urban communes of Beni Makadda (Tangers province). In total EUR 109 million in subsidies have been allocated in favour of reforms in Morocco, and not 130 as initially foreseen (see EUROPE of 8 and 9 January). The agreement on aid to non-industrial fishing, the conclusion of which did not, however, officially hang on the conclusion of negotiations on the EU-Morocco fishing agreement, was finally not signed last Sunday …