EU Must Fully Assume Its Responsibility to Preserve Partnership with Morocco – Govt. Spokesman –

The European Union (EU) must fully assume its responsibility to preserve and protect partnership with Morocco in the face of provocations and political maneuvers, Minister in charge of Relations with Parliament, Government Spokesperson, Mustapha Baitas, said Thursday. Responding to questions on the conclusions of the Advocate General at the Court of Justice of the European Union regarding the agricultural and fisheries agreement between Morocco and the EU, Baitas underlined that Morocco reiterates its position that “the European Union must, through its institutions and member States, fully assume its responsibility to preserve and protect partnership with Morocco in the face of provocations and political maneuvers.” During a press briefing following the Government Council, Baitas said the Kingdom has taken note of the conclusions issued on Thursday by the Advocate General at the Court of Justice of the EU regarding the questions submitted to it in relation to the agricultural and fisheries agreement between Morocco and the EU. These conclusions “are neither a decision of the European Court nor a court order, but it is a document summarizing the opinion of the Advocate General on various aspects of these questions subject to debate”, he stressed. The Minister also considered that this is therefore a contribution made by the Advocate General at this stage of the procedure ahead of the forthcoming deliberations between the Court judges, pending the pronouncement of the final decision. Baitas also noted that the Kingdom is not a party to this procedure, pointing out that the European Union, represented by the EU Council, is the party complained against, supported by the European Commission and several member States in defending the agreements with Morocco. He added that some Moroccan professional associations have also joined this procedure in support of defense, in particular the Moroccan Confederation of Agriculture and Rural Development (COMADER) and Fisheries Chambers.