"The Kingdom of Morocco and the European Union have effectively ended, in a climate of collaboration and mutual understanding, discussions regarding the revision of the agricultural agreement between the two entities," stated Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccan Expatriates Nasser Bourita on Thursday.
In a statement released today in Rabat, the minister mentioned that "the signing will occur soon in Brussels" and added that, once internal procedures are completed, "the agreement will be temporarily applied immediately after it is signed."
He stressed that this agreement "offers the essential explanations, in line with the Kingdom's national principles." It aligns with and reflects "the philosophy of the letter exchange agreement between the two parties in 2018," he noted, adding that "the new text stays true to the overall structure."
In this context, the minister mentioned that "the agreement confirms the use of preferential tariffs for the Southern Provinces as granted by the EU under the Association Agreement with Morocco," adding that "generally, the market access conditions applicable to products from the North will also apply to products from the Moroccan Sahara."
The deal also includes technical changes related to consumer information regarding the origin of products. Agricultural products from the southern areas will have labels showing their production regions as “Laayoune-Sakia El Hamra” and “Dakhla-Oued Eddahab”, according to the minister.
Additionally, the agreement highlights the EU's stance from 2019 concerning the Moroccan Sahara, where the Union acknowledged Morocco's genuine and reliable efforts in a positive manner. Bourita mentioned that the document also mentions the national positions taken by various EU Member States, which have shown their backing for Morocco's autonomy plan, in alignment with the initiative led by His Majesty King Mohammed VI.
Of course, this is not a political deal," Bourita explained. "It is a sector-specific, commercial, and operational agreement. Still, it conveys strong and clear messages.
In this context, the minister mentioned that "Thanks to the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, the Moroccan Sahara has transformed into an area of development, connection, and prosperity, positioning itself as a center of stability and regional progress."
He highlighted the significant interest of major global and regional powers in economic endeavors within the Moroccan Sahara, as well as their readiness to back trade and investment in the area and assist in turning it into a link between Europe and Africa, and between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic.
For instance, he remembered, "the strong declaration by the United States last week," "the Morocco-France Economic Forum set to occur in Dakhla on October 9," and "the initiative being organized by the British agency UK Export Finance."
In a similar manner, the agreement with the EU "provides a qualitative impact at the national level" by supporting agricultural GDP and the generation and preservation of jobs, especially in the Moroccan Sahara area, the minister stated.
"Naturally, this Agreement strengthens the long-standing and strong strategic partnership between Morocco and the EU," Bourita reiterated, emphasizing that Morocco is a dependable and trustworthy partner for the EU to carry out most of its trade in Africa and the Arab region, totaling more than €60 billion each year, including industrial goods, machinery, and agricultural products.
The minister also stated, "His Majesty the King has consistently aimed for the Morocco-EU Partnership to be carried out through collaborative and tangible initiatives," adding, "the commercial and agricultural sectors are indeed significant due to their importance for the Kingdom's economy, but our collaboration [with the EU] covers a broad spectrum of areas: political, economic, social, and environmental, as well as migration and mobility, security, digital, and culture."
"Ultimately, during a period when the regional situation is intricate and crises are turning into structural issues, this gradual advancement enables Morocco and the EU to face their shared future calmly and to explore an ambitious and hopeful direction," Bourita stated.
"We are now in a position to utilize our complete existing capabilities, whether it's to get ready for shared deadlines, to rejuvenate our political structures, such as the Association Council, or to establish the groundwork for a more profound strategic partnership that will shape our relations for many years ahead," Bourita concluded.
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