Ireland ready to defend Morocco's request to have advanced status with EU

Ireland, which will take up as of next January the rotating chairmanship of the European Union, said it is ready to defend Morocco's request to have an advanced status with the European Union (EU).

"Given Morocco's strategic and geopolitical location, Ireland will spare no effort to back Morocco's request," Irish Vice-Premier, Ms. Mary Harney said Monday.

The official, who is currently on a visit to Morocco, made the statement at a meeting with Moroccan external trade minister Mutapha Mechahouri.

Ms. Harney, who is also trade and employment minister, called for the consolidation of trade exchanges between Morocco and Ireland. She described Morocco as "an attractive country."

She deplored the low level of trade between the two countries and stressed the need to encourage the exchange of business missions as a means to give a new impetus to economic cooperation.

Morocco's trade with Ireland represents 0.41 of the countries trade exchanges with the rest of the world and 0.66 of its commerce with the EU.