European Commission president Romano Prodi tours Maghreb countries

European Commission president Romano Prodi tours Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco January 11-15.

The tour is meant to re-energize the European Union relations with Maghreb partners, it was announced here Monday.

Prodi will be meeting top officials in the three countries and signing financial conventions destined to several sectors.

The 130 million EURO convention with Morocco benefits the financial sector (52 million euros), health (50 million euros), traditional fisheries (21 million euros) and social housing (7 million euros).

Prodi will also be exploring means for the EC to back-up south-south regional integration and sub-regional cooperation to boost inter-Maghreban exchanges which are "insignificant" for countries enjoying first-class economic ties with the European Union.

At the political level, Prodi will be calling for wider dialog on specific issues such as terrorism and migration, consolidation of the rule of law, human rights and democratic principles.

In Rabat where he is expected on January 13, the EC president will be bringing support to overture in the kingdom and new impetus to the Morocco-EU association accord and attempt to level down "political obstacles" slowing down the European-Moroccan quest for a fishery agreement.