Morocco and the EU: Towards an Advanced Statute in the Euro-Mediterranean Association

Dates: 1st and 2nd of March 2007
Place: Barcelona
Organised by: IEMed (European Institute of the Mediterranean) with the collaboration of the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (MAEC)

Over the course of the last few decades, the European Union and Morocco have reinforced their bilateral relations at all levels. As a result, it is necessary to consider the implementation of an Advanced Statute for Morocco within the framework of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership and the new European Neighbourhood Policy, which hopes to deepen relations in the Union according to the level of commitment of the partner countries.

The aim of this meeting is to bring together experts in the fields of politics, economics and civil society who, through their work or reflection on relations between Morocco and the European Union, are able to bring new work ideas to the table.

This is a Franco-Spanish-Portuguese initiative for the development of the European Neighbourhood Policy which aims to promote an Advanced Statute for Morocco.

(Download the programme of the seminar)

Thursday 1st March

6pm - Inaugural Session

17.30pm - First Session: Towards a Privileged Political Partnership between Morocco and the EU. Morocco and the Political Dimension of the Euro-Mediterranean Project
The historical transformation of Morocco and its role in the Euro-Mediterranean zone. Processes of political, economic and social reform in Morocco. Development of the Morocco-EU Partnership. Challenges for Morocco in terms of globalisation and the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership. The new European Neighbourhood Policy and the Action Plan. Cooperation in security and defence. CFSP agreement and crisis management.

Friday 2nd March

9.30am - Second Session: The Economic and Financial Dimension in Relations between Morocco and the European Union: Challenges and Obstacles
Morocco in the era of Euro-Mediterranean integration. Creation of a Free-Trade Zone and priority sectors in agriculture, industry and services. Economic cooperation and infrastructure and energy networks. Action Plan, freedom – of movement, exchange, capital and services – and coordination of common policies. Morocco’s participation in the European Union’s internal market. Role of instruments for financial cooperation in economic and social development. From nominal convergence to real convergence.

12 midday - Third Session: Human Exchanges, Social and Cultural Dialogues and Modernisation. The Role of Civil Society.
Participation of civil society: The Euro-Mediterranean association as a modernisation project. Convergence of legislation. Transformation of societies. Morocco’s participation in European cultural, educational and scientific programmes. Moroccan communities in Europe: their role in the Partnership. The importance of decentralised cooperation. Coordinated management of legal and illegal migratory flows.

3pm - Fourth Session: Towards an Updated Cooperation Framework: the Concept of an Advanced Statute. The Possibilities of the Morocco-EU Partnership. The Barcelona Process and the Instruments of the New European Neighbourhood Policy.
Optimisation of signed agreements and examination of new fields of cooperation. The key points of the European cooperation model: The free trade zone or deep integration. Customs Union (Turkey), pre-accession transition (new member countries). Setting up of consultation mechanisms at different levels. Co-responsibility, decentralisation. The advanced statute and how it fits into the Euro-Mediterranean project. Morocco’s participation in the development of the Strategy for Africa.

6pm - Conclusions and Summing-up: Towards an Updated Cooperation Framework


DOCUMENTATION

Papers and conclusions (coming soon)

Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament
on Strengthening The European Neighbourhood Policy. 4-12-2006

Plan d’action UE/Maroc

Rapport de Suivi PEV: Maroc (4-12-2006)

Communication from the commission to the council and to the european parliament:
on the general approach to enable ENP partner countries to participate in community agencies and community programmes (4-12-2006)

Five Year Work Programme (final text)
12-2005 (english)

8th Euromediterranean Conference of Ministers of Foreign Affairs.
Tampere Conclusions, 27-28 November 2006 (english)

Programme Indicative National (Maroc) 2005-2006

European Neihgbourhood Partnership Instrument . Morocco National Indicative Plan 2007-2010

European Neihgbourhood Partnership Instrument. Morocco Strategy Paper 2007-2013

European Neihgbourhood Partnership Instrument. Resumen Plan Indicativo Nacional -2007-2010- y del Informe Estratégico 2007-2013