FoodDrinkEurope supports an Agreement between the EU and Morocco concerning reciprocal liberalisation measures on agricultural products, processed agricultural products, fish and fishery products, for the following reasons:

Firstly, rejecting the agreement would send a negative signal to our partners at a time when a strong partnership between the EU and the Southern Mediterranean is high on the EU’s political agenda. In light of the EU’s objective to create a prosperity zone within its southern neighbours, and considering Morocco’s Gross National Income (GNI)¹, it does not seem appropriate to maintain barriers to trade with this country.

Secondly, the current EU deficit in foodstuffs trade with Morocco exceeds €600 million whereas Morocco benefits already from privileged and asymmetric access to the European market under the previous bilateral agreement and the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP). Considering this, FoodDrinkEurope calls on the European Parliament to support conclusion of the new agreement which would grant European food and drink manufacturers better access to the Moroccan market and improve the bilateral trade balance.

(1) GNI per capita of $2,700, World Bank data, 2009

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