New Morocco-EU agricultural agreement: Business continues
It is now official. A new agricultural agreement including the Southern provinces was signed on Friday, October 03, between Morocco and the European Union (EU) in Brussels. Signed on the Moroccan side by His Majesty the King’s Ambassador to the EU, Ahmed Réda Chami, the treaty immediately enters into temporary force, pending the completion of internal procedures by both parties. “Legal certainty”. The new agreement replaces the one concluded in 2019, which was annulled by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) on October 4, 2024. The EU’s highest court had declqred the agricultural pact invalid, justifying its decision on the grounds of «the non-consent of the Sahrawi people». The Brussels court had granted an additional period of 12 months before the verdict was enforced in order to avoid «the serious negative consequences for the Union’s external action that its immediate annulment would entail» and for «reasons of legal certainty». Bound by the deadline set by the Court of Justice, Rabat and Brussels began negotiations on September 10, which were concluded on September 15. A draft was proposed by the European Commission.
The draft was submitted to the Committee of Permanent Representatives of the Governments of the Member States of the EU (COREPER). Meeting on October 1, this preparatory body of the Council of the EU voted in favor of revising the agreement. “ Same conditions of access”. The new treaty thus confirms the application to the southern provinces of the preferential tariffs granted by the EU under the Association Agreement with Morocco. In short, agricultural products from the southern provinces benefit from the same preferential access to the European market as those from the rest of the Kingdom. The EU has thus bowed to Rabat’s demands: no partnership with Morocco will be at the expense of its territorial integrity. This firm position of the Kingdom was emphasized by His Majesty King Mohammed VI in His speech on November à6, 2024.
The new text introduces technical adjustments relating to consumer information on the origin of products. Thus, labeling mentioning the regions of production in the south of the Kingdom, «Laâyoune-Sakia El Hamra» and «Dakhla-Oued Eddahab», will now be affixed to agricultural products.
On the business operators’ side, it is a huge relief. «No disruption to shipments to the European market», they all agree.
Beyond trade and agriculture, the partnership with the EU also extends to a wide range of areas: political, economic, social, environmental, as well as migration and mobility, security, digital technology, and culture. This agreement thus marks a turning point in relations between Rabat and Brussels.
Khadija SKALLI
L’article New Morocco-EU agricultural agreement: Business continues est apparu en premier sur L'Economiste.
