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At the European Commission headquarters, Morocco and the European Union formalized an amendment to their agricultural agreement through an exchange of letters—an act viewed as a reaffirmation of their enduring strategic partnership.
Analysts note that this agreement caps a lengthy negotiation process and marks the beginning of a new phase in the multifaceted relationship between Rabat and Brussels.
Morocco was represented by Ambassador Ahmed Reda Chami, Head of its Mission to the EU. The updated accord will take effect immediately on a provisional basis, pending the completion of domestic ratification procedures by both parties.
Under the revised terms, agricultural products from Morocco’s southern provinces will now enjoy the same preferential access to the European market as those from other regions of the country. These benefits fall under the framework of the existing EU-Morocco Association Agreement.
The deal also introduces new labeling requirements, highlighting product origins from regions such as “Laayoune-Sakia El Hamra” and “Dakhla-Oued Ed-Dahab,” thereby reinforcing the Moroccan identity of goods from these territories.
El Ajlaoui El Moussaoui, a professor of international relations at the AMES Centre in Rabat, emphasized that the most important achievement was the prevention of a breakdown in EU-Morocco relations. He stressed that this outcome was the result of meticulous negotiations and reiterated Morocco’s past criticisms of the EU for insufficiently safeguarding their agreements through legal mechanisms.
Similarly, international relations expert Idriss Lakrini highlighted the broader implications of including products from Western Sahara. He argued that the move solidifies the strategic nature of the EU-Morocco alliance, reflecting shared interests and deep economic ties. He also underlined Morocco’s role as the EU’s top economic partner in Africa and a key interlocutor in the Arab world.
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This development comes in the wake of an October ruling by the European Court of Justice, which annulled the 2019 fisheries and agricultural agreements between the EU and Morocco. The court cited violations of international legal principles, particularly regarding the right to self-determination in Western Sahara.
Despite this legal setback, the European Union has reiterated the strong value it places on its broad strategic relationship with Morocco, characterizing it as a partnership grounded in deep cooperation and mutual respect. The EU expressed its intention to further strengthen ties in the coming months, affirming Morocco’s status as a trusted and essential partner in North Africa and the broader region.
