Morocco - EU association committee sets up work groups

The Morocco - European Union association committee held its first meeting in Rabat on Tuesday and set up four work groups that will follow up specific dossiers.

The four groups that will deal with tariffs dismantling, agricultural negotiations, services and social issues will shortly hold meetings to thoroughly examine all these questions.

The committee discussed political issues of mutual concern, consultations on the European Union enlargement, bilateral agreements on regional integration, free-trade areas, trade issues, social and cultural and financial cooperation, and implementation mechanisms of the Moroccan-European Union association accord that was signed in 1996 and came into force in March 2000.

The association accord provides for the establishment of a free-trade area as of 2010, in line with the rules of the World Trade Organization and the gradual suppression of customs duties, the liberalization of services, and the free movement of capital. Free-trade does not however cover agricultural products that must be the object of specific negotiations.

The accord also provides for financial cooperation to help Morocco carry out economic, social and cultural programs.