First EU-Morocco Summit heralds new era in partnership

Granada - The first Morocco-European Union summit, held Sunday in Granada (southern Spain) was crowned with "success" and ushers a "new era" for the consolidation of achievements made within the framework of the strategic partnership with the Union's 27 countries, the two parties said.

At a joint press conference following the summit, Prime minister Abbas El Fassi said he was "very satisfied" with the outcome of the Morocco-EU summit, which crowns a long process of bringing parties closer.

He hailed the "shared trust" that marked the talks attended by European Council President Van Rumpoy, European Commission President José Manuel Durao Barroso, and Spanish President José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero whose country assumes the EU rotating presidency.

Abbas El Fassi said the meeting heralds the beginning of a new era of cooperation in the Moroccan-European partnership.

He underlined the convergence of Morocco and the EU on different issues and the progress achieved by Morocco at the political, democratic and human rights levels, noting that the Kingdom adopted universal values in these areas.

Zapatero praised the "positive and constructive" relation between Morocco, Spain and the 27 EU member States.

This summit is a "major stride on the path of consolidating partnership with a southern country" which is a "strategic partner" for Europe, he said.

Van Rompuy, who represents for the first time the EU in a meeting with a non-member country, hailed this "unprecedented" high-level meeting with Morocco. "This summit will further promote the excellent relations with Morocco, an important country for the EU."

He said the EU takes interest to see Morocco succeed in carrying out its "reforms for more progress, freedom and human rights for the benefit of its citizens."

He said the summit was a success, adding that the parties will work together to elaborate a strategy of convergence with a partner that opted for the values of democracy.

	His Majesty The King Mohammed VI addresses a message to the First EU-Morocco Summit
	Joint Statement (English / French)		Video Report
	Media Coverage (FR)