Italian parliament ratifies Morocco-EU association accord

The Italian parliament ratified on Wednesday the association accord, concluded between Morocco and the European Union.

The accord, that had been ratified by the Italian Senate last February, was passed by the House of Representatives by 224 votes against 57.

The Italian Parliament is the last European Union legislative body to ratify the accord, concluded in February 1996.

The accord will enter into force as soon as Italy, the last country to ratify the document, deposits in the few coming weeks the ratification instruments at the European Union in Brussels.

The Morocco-EU association accord provides for the gradual establishment by year 2010 of a free exchange area in accordance with the rules of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Economic observers believe the implementation of the accord will entails negative and positive effects on the Moroccan economy. The new commercial atmosphere that the association accord will establish will compel the small and not-well-prepared Moroccan firms to face tough competition from stronger European counterparts. But the Accord will also pave the way for the increasing the competitiveness of the Moroccan industrial fabric to produce better quality products.

Keen on arming itself, Morocco devised a large-scale program to level up its enterprises to prepare them to the new atmosphere and to the dismantling of customs barriers.

The European Union joined this drive and approved a support program for the increasing of the quality of Moroccan industrial products. The EU contribution to this project stood at 15.5 million euros.

The association accord provides for the gradual suppression of customs duties and other taxes as well as quantity restrictions and other measures imposed on industrial products.

The free-exchange does not concern the agricultural products, preferential regimes being already confirmed or extended to some produce like tomatoes and flowers. Morocco and the European Union are expected to reexamine the situation of agricultural exchanges as of January 1, 2000.

The free movement of capital is also provided for in the association accord. The competition rules in force in the EU will be applicable to Morocco. This means that monopoly practices, dumping... will be banned.

Under the accord, the partners will cooperate to prevent the use of their financial systems in laundering money earned from illegal activities, such as drug trafficking.

The situation of Moroccan workers in EU countries is also stipulated in the accord. Each member country is called to guarantee the absence of all discrimination against Morocco workers, regarding salaries, working conditions, layoffs, social security.