Press Release: Morocco: Commission proposes more than EUR 650 million in support of reforms

European Commissioner for External Relations and Neighbourhood Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner will participate in the seminar "Morocco and the EU: Towards an Advanced Statute in the Euro-Mediterranean Association" organised by the IEMed (European Institute of the Mediterranean) with the collaboration of the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (Barcelona, 1-2 March 2007). The seminar will examine the possibilities for reinforcing partnership in areas such as political co-operation, security issues, economic relations and civil society. The Commissioner will present a proposed €654 million assistance package for Morocco to support implementation of the EU-Morocco Action Plan, prepared in the context of the European Neighbourhood Policy. This bilateral aid will be topped up by loans from the European Investment Bank (FEMIP) and other financial programmes. The package represents an increase of close to 20% compared to the annual average during 1995-2006. In Barcelona Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner will also meet with the Deputy Moroccan Minister responsible for External Relations and Cooperation, Taïb Fassi Fihri, with whom she will discuss EU-Morocco relations, the European Neighbourhood Policy and the new assistance package.