Liberation: Morocco will have no problem joining the EU, doyle

Morocco will be have no problem in joining the European Union, provided that it speeds up its reforms for a better economic performance, an efficient social management and the promotion of justice and social equity, the European commission's ambassador to Rabat, Sean Doyle, said.

Doyle told "Liberation" daily in an interview that agriculture negotiations between Morocco and the EU will resume next December.

Concerning the Morocco-EU agreement on water, the diplomat said the European institutions are waiting for the findings of a commission which convened last week to earmark some 60 million Euro for Morocco, plus another 60 million if water reforms in Morocco follow their course.

The EU is mobilizing another 60 million Euro for the upgrading of Moroccan enterprises' competitiveness, he said, citing several projects of loans, guarantees and professional training in fields of textile, computing and tourism, which could attract some 50 millions.

The ambassador stressed that lifting customs barriers will lead to a loss in jobs, while creating others thanks to a "better competitiveness of Moroccan enterprises and European investments."

In the sector of transport, Doyle said among the necessary reforms is reducing the monopoly of Royal Air Maroc (RAM) on some lines, and rationalizing dock work tasks in ports.