Brussels, 04/11/2002 (Agence Europe) - The visit that Mohamed Benaïssa was to make to the European Commission on 15 November has been deferred "at the request of the Moroccan side", it was announced on Monday by the Commission's spokesman's service, specifying that the Moroccan Foreign Minister would have to stay in Rabat for reasons relating to the formation of a new government. "A new date will be announced very soon", the spokesperson said. We recall that Mr Benaïssa was to have separate meetings with Romano Prodi and Chris Patten, President of the Commission and European Commissioner for External Relations respectively. Both parties were to discuss key subjects of common interest, namely economic issues, fisheries, the Middle East and probably the tense relations between Spain and Morocco. Initially scheduled for the end of September, Mr Benaïssa's visit had already been cancelled by the Commission for timetable reasons (see also EUROPE of 18 October, p.14).