European high commissioner for EU enlargement and neighborhood policy visits morocco

The European Commissioner for Europe enlargement and neighborhood policy, Gunter Verheugen, will be visiting Morocco this February 4-5 for talks with Moroccan officials on the implementation of the enlarged European Union's new neighborhood policy.

Verheugen's talks with prime minister, Driss Jettou, and foreign affairs and cooperation minister, Mohamed Benaissa, will review a draft work plan to implement the EU neighborhood policy.

The EU official visit comes as 10 Eastern European countries will join the European Union, in the fifth and biggest enlargement ever that will make the EU 19% larger in terms of population and 23 % bigger in size.

Amidst fears by its southern neighbors that they will be neglected in this enlargement, the EU is promising to come closer to its neighbors on the other bank of the Mediterranean.

Verheugen had already paid a similar visit on January 21-22 to Tunisia.