EP’s Foreign-Affairs Committee approves protocol on Morocco’s participation in EU programmes

The Foreign-Affairs Committee of the European Parliament (EP) voted, on Tuesday, in favor of the Protocol to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement between the EU and Morocco, on the general principles of the Kingdom’s participation in the Union’s programmes.

This text allows Morocco to participate in all current and future programmes of the EU and to contribute to the Union’s overall budget for the programmes in which it participates.

The protocol, which is consistent with the objectives of the new European neighbourhood Policy, is a landmark in the EU-Morocco ties, said the rapporteur Annemie Neyts-Uyttebroeck, in her draft recommendation.

She added that it constitutes an act of the EU’s support and encouragement to Morocco’s efforts towards deepening reforms.

The Kingdom has embarked since several years on a comprehensive political, economic and social reform process. The EU has consistently supported the efforts made by Morocco to implement its reform programme, Neyts-Uyttebroeck said.

In her presentation, she particularly welcomed the Constitutional reforms as well as the parliamentary elections which, she said, were conducted in a manner that meets all the criteria.