EU Trade Commissioner voices readiness to contribute to achieving Morocco's advanced status request

European Union Trade Commissioner, Peter Mandelson expressed his readiness to contribute fully to the achievement of the Moroccan request of advanced status vis-à-vis the European Union (EU), a press release of Foreign Trade Ministry said on Friday.

During a meeting with Minister of Foreign Trade, Abdellatif Maâzouz, in Brussels, the EU official voiced resolve to undertake approaches with other European Commissioners to give a concrete and innovative content to that status.

The two officials also discussed on the Euro-Med process, in particular the effective implementation of the Agadir Agreement signed in 2004 for the establishment of a free trade zone between the four Arab countries (Morocco, Jordan, Egypt and Tunisia).

On that occasion, Mr. Mandelson expressed hope that Morocco could be more involved in the process of Euro-Mediterranean Road Map, stressed that this commitment will help give new impetus to the Barcelona Process.

For his part, stressed Mr. Maâzouz the North African country's commitment to the implementation of the Agadir Agreement, compliance with the Euro-Med process, and their determination to conclude the negotiations with the EU within the agreed time frame.

In this respect, the EU Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, had stressed on Thursday that the agreement with Morocco on the granting of an advanced status "could be concluded under the French presidency of the European Union."

Morocco is a strong political will to more forward, she stressed that the "advanced status", by the way Morocco for the "broad possibilities of cooperation" with the EU, above all, more liberalization of trade, a deeper political Dialogue, a better harmony vis-à-vis common foreign and security policy issues.