Prime minister Abbas El Fassi, Spanish president José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero whose country assumes the EU rotating presidency, Council President Herman Van Rompuy and European Commission president José Manuel Durao Barroso presented to the press the results of the summit, commending the event which heralds a new era in the privileged and strategic partnership.

The joint declaration highlights the convergence of Morocco and the EU on global issues (economic downturn, situation in Middle East and the Maghreb, the Union for the Mediterranean, the development of the Sahara issue and security in the Sahel).

Abbas El Fassi said the meeting heralds the beginning of a new era of cooperation in the Moroccan-European partnership.

He underlined the convergence of Morocco and the EU on different issues and the progress achieved by Morocco at the political, democratic and human rights levels, noting that the Kingdom adopted universal values in these areas.

Zapatero praised the "positive and constructive" relation between Morocco, Spain and the 27 EU member States.

This summit is a "major stride on the path of consolidating partnership with a southern country" which is a "strategic partner" for Europe, he said.

He said the EU takes interest to see Morocco succeed in carrying out its "reforms for more progress, freedom and human rights for the benefit of its citizens."

He also said the summit was a success, adding that the parties will work together to elaborate a strategy of convergence with a partner that opted for the values of democracy.

In this context, the EU and Morocco agreed to pay “special attention” to more concrete projects, notably the establishment of the EU-Morocco parliamentary commission, Morocco's participation in EU programs and the establishment of a new instrument that will replace the EU-Morocco Action Plan.