The Day.kiev.ua (Ukrania) March 29, 2012
By Mykola SIRUK, The Day Photo by the author
ABDELJALIL SAUBRY, THE MOROCCAN AMBASSADOR TO UKRAINE
The Kingdom of Morocco is the first African country to have held a summit with the European Union, signed an association and FTA agreements. Morocco is a member of NATO and takes part in numerous operations of the Alliance. How did Morocco succeed in cooperating with the EU? What lessons did this country learn from the Arab Spring? More on this in the following exclusive interview with the Moroccan Ambassador to Ukraine, Abdeljalil SAUBRY.
“For historical reasons, geographical proximity, and economic importance, Europe has always been a major partner for Morocco in its external relations with the world.
“The Morocco-EU relations are old, multidimensional and of strategic importance. In fact, the EU is Morocco’s first partner in all fields whether it is trade, investment, tourism or cultural cooperation. Also, the majority of the Moroccan Diaspora (around 3 million people) lives in the European-Union.
“The first negotiations between Morocco and the EU took place in the early 1960s, following the signing of the Rome Treaty, a few years only after Morocco’s independence.
“The evolution of these relations was marked by the signing of a series of successive agreements, which, every time, were broadened, deepened and enriched by the inclusion of new fields and mechanisms of cooperation: Commercial agreement in 1969, Cooperation agreement in 1976, and the Association agreement in 1996. This latter, which came into force in 2000 after a series of ratifications, is a comprehensive agreement that includes the establishment of a political dialog; an economic, cultural, and social cooperation; instruments for financial cooperation; as well as a Free Trade Area over a period of 12 years.
“Morocco’s choice for Europe derives from a strategic vision that was clearly defined by His Majesty the King, who declared that the framework.
