European Union should reconsider policy towards Morocco, Dutch minister

Dutch minister of foreign trade, Gerrit Ybema, said Thursday the European Union should reconsider its policy towards Morocco, in view of the kingdom's economic and political progress.

"I think the EU is not really aware of the economic and political progress taking place in Morocco," Ybema, who is visiting Morocco heading a business delegation, told reporters.

The minister said he was impressed by the ongoing modernization, the liberalization policy and the lifting of customs barriers in Morocco, before underscoring that the northern region of Tangiers and Tetuan boasts a great economic potential.

The Dutch delegation held a series of meetings with minister of justice and president of the Hassan II Foundation for Moroccans settled abroad, Omar Azzimane, minister of economy, finance, tourism and privatization, Fathallah Oulaalou, minister of industry, trade, energy and mining, Mustapha Mansouri, minister of agriculture and rural development, Ismail Alaoui, and minister of fisheries, Said Chbaatou.

In 2000, Moroccan-Dutch trade was worth 500,000 Euro.

Between 1985 and 2000, bilateral trade grew by an average 11%, from 1,568 billion Dirhams ($140 Mln) to 4 billion Dirhams ($350 Mln).

The Netherlands hosts a large Moroccan community evaluated at some 300,000 people.