EU-Morocco: 2013 remarkable year for relations
Brussels, (16 December) - Today Commissioner Štefan Füle participated in the EU-Morocco Association Council. After the meeting he said: 'Bonjour et bienvenue, chers amis. Si je regarde les derniers douze mois, je peux dire avec plaisir que deux mille treize était une année remarquable pour nos relations avec le Maroc. Il y a beaucoup d'exemples de réussites. Et si nous travaillons ensemble, nous pouvons encore faire beaucoup.
Now in English. Let me outline some of the concrete results and important developments in our bilateral relations :
The new protocol to the Fisheries Agreement, approved by the European Parliament last week.
The agreement on the Partnership for mobility signed in June
Mandate for the Commission given early this month for the negotiation of a visa facilitation agreement. (Early next year we will start negotiations on the readmission and visa facilitation agreements.) Morocco is the first southern partner with which we will start a visa facilitation agreement.
The launch of the negotiations on the Deep and comprehensive free trade area in April. Two rounds of negotiations already took place this year and a new one will take place soon.
Progress in negotiations on the protection of geographical indications for agricultural products.
Morocco remains one of the biggest recipients of EU assistance in the Neighbourhood region (more than 708 million euro for 2011 – 2013). A considerable part of it (128 million) comes from the SPRING programme recognising progress made on democratic reforms.
Our shared objective is to deepen and strengthen bilateral relations on the basis of the "advanced status". One important element in this is today´s adoption of the new Action Plan 2013-2017.
This new Action Plan is focused on progressive alignment with EU norms and rules in order to establish closer economic integration with benefits for Morocco in terms of foreign investment, market access, competitiveness and job creation.
The Action Plan also contains important objectives for the consolidation of the respect of human rights and democratic principles, improved governance and a more active involvement of the civil society.
After the press conference we will be also discussing regional and international issues. And when speaking about the region I would like to stress the importance we attach in particular to the Maghreb integration. We encourage deeper cooperation among the countries of the region, because based on our own experience we know that this brings a lot of benefits for the people and the wider region.
Thank you, merci, shokran lakum'
Watch the press conference.
Read the press release 
.