EUROPOLITICS
The European Parliament agreed, on 14 February, to the general principles for the participation of Morocco in Union programmes as designed by the Council. In the explanatory statement of the draft resolution, rapporteur Annemie Neyts-Uyttebroeck (ALDE, Belgium) explains that “with the profound changes taking place in the Southern Mediterranean […] it is important that the EU supports the aspirations of people in these countries even more, now that these aspirations are shared by their leaders”. This protocol “marks a decisive stage in bilateral relations,” she said, concluding that “through the protocol, the EU is supporting and strongly encouraging Morocco in its efforts to intensify its reforms and to initiate future ones”.
