Morocco to get free trade access to Europe

The European Union (EU) and Morocco today announced the start-up of negotiations aiming at reaching a complete free trade agreement, according to EU President José Manuel Barroso, who is currently in Rabat.

The European Union (EU) and Morocco today announced the start-up of negotiations aiming at reaching a complete free trade agreement, according to EU President José Manuel Barroso, who is currently in Rabat.

The main objective of the new agreement would be to seek "a progressive integration of the Moroccan economy into the internal market of the European Union," explained Mr Barroso. The EU leader spoke at a press conference in the Moroccan capital together with the North African kingdom's Prime Minister, Abdelilah Benkirane.

According to the EU President, "Morocco is the first partner in the Mediterranean region with which the EU launches negotiations of this character to reach a complete and profound free trade agreement." Mr Barroso at the same time confirmed that "the agreement will deepen our economic ties" and recalled that, already, "the EU is Morocco's most important trade partner and the principal foreign investor."