​Relations with the EU/Representation at EU level

Morocco occupies a strategic position in the Euro-Mediterranean partnership. The Association Agreement, between the European Union and the Kingdom of Morocco[1] was signed in Brussels in 1996. Following its entry into force on 1 March 2000. The agreement principally aims to: strengthen political dialogue; lay down the necessary conditions for the gradual liberalisation of trade in goods, services and capital; develop balanced economic and social relations between the parties; support south-south integration initiatives; and enhance economic, social, cultural and financial cooperation. It stipulates regular political dialogue at ministerial and administrative level, as well as at parliamentary level via contacts between the European Parliament and the Moroccan Parliament. Relations between Morocco and the EU were subsequently strengthened by the agreement between the EU and Morocco on reciprocal liberalisation measures connected to agricultural products and fishery products. Morocco is the first Mediterranean country with which the EU has started negotiations with a view to reaching a general free trade agreement.

An action plan under the European Neighbourhood Policy was adopted in 2005. Morocco is the first country in the southern Mediterranean region to be granted "advanced status" (as of 2008). "This 'advanced status' means a willingness to enhance political dialogue and economic, social, parliamentary, security-related and judicial cooperation, as well as cooperation in other areas such as agriculture, transport, energy and the environment. It also aims to gradually integrate Morocco into the single internal market and to achieve greater legislative and regulatory convergence." An EU-Morocco joint report on strengthening bilateral ties was adopted in order to back up this new status.
Furthermore, a new EU-Morocco action plan to implement this advanced status is currently under discussion. The European Commission and the High Representative submitted a joint proposal for a Council decision in this regard[2].

The European Union Delegation represents the EU in Morocco and work towards the implementation of the partnership between the EU and Morocco within the framework of the European Neighbourhood Policy.



[1] Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Kingdom of Morocco, of the other part, OJ L 70, 18 March 2000, 2.

[2] European Commission and High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Joint Proposal for a Council Decision on the Union position within the Association Council set up by the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Kingdom of Morocco, of the other part, with regard to the adoption of a recommendation on the implementation of the EU-Morocco Action Plan implementing the advanced status (2013-2017), 2013/0107 (NLE),.