Mr. Nizar Baraka, Minister of Economy and Finance, chaired, Thursday, February 23rd 2012 at the headquarters of his department, the signing of the financing agreement by the EU of the first phase of the program "making a Success of Advanced Status".
This financing agreement was signed by the Minister of Economy and Finance, the Secretary General of the Government and the Minister Delegate at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, and was also attended by the Minister of Agriculture and sea fishing, mines, water and environment as well as the Minister of Employment and vocational Training.
On this occasion, the Minister of Economy and Finance stressed the importance of this program, with a global budget of 180 million Euros, the first phase of which, signed today, involves an amount of 91 million. Mr. Nizar Baraka noted that the signing of this agreement intervenes in accordance with Morocco`s commitment, expressed by the Sovereign, to build the most solid and most pushed relation with the European Union and recalled that the specific objective of the program " making a success of the advanced status? is to support the implementation of key reforms included in the roadmap of the advanced status , the Action Plan of the European Neighborhood Policy as well as the relevant conclusions of the Morocco-EU Summit held in Granada on March 7th 2010, with an emphasis on supporting the process of regulatory convergence of Moroccan legislations towards the Union?s Asset.
He indicated that this program relates to the industry standards, transport, sea fishing, farming, employment, water, higher education, the consumer protection, the support of legislative process for regulatory convergence and the upholding of the principles of promoting and protecting human rights through the gradual accession to some Council of Europe conventions.
The Minister of Economy and Finance also stressed that the expected results of this multisector program will contribute to achieve several reforms contained in the roadmap of the advanced status, at the end of a selective, sequenced and integrated process of regulatory convergence.
In this context, Mr. Nizar Baraka insisted that this program, in its economic and social dimension, will help strengthen the foundations of the future Free Trade Agreement further developed with the European Union and will support the national sustainable development for the benefit of economic activities and the wellbeing of both parties.
The Minister of Economy and Finance thanked Mr. Eneko LANDABURU, Ambassador and Head of the Delegation of the European Union in Rabat, for the continued support of the European Union priorities of economic development and social support of Morocco.
In his speech, Mr. LANDABURU expressed his satisfaction as for the evolution of relations between Morocco and the European Union. He affirmed that the signing today of this convention will make it possible for the two partners to succeed the advanced status.
In this regard, the Ambassador and Head of the Delegation of the European Union in Morocco stressed that this agreement is the European Union?s first experiment with a third country, in terms of harmonization of legislations. The goal is to make the Kingdom a leader country to benefit from Europe?s advantages.
Mr. LANDABURU also wishes to see the European Commission set up an action plan of the commitments of both parties to create a climate of transparency and a culture of evaluation.