(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) The EU and Morocco Monday started the first round of negotiations for an EU-Morocco Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA), after European Commission President Jos{ Manuel Barroso and Moroccan Prime Minister Abdelilah Benkirane officially launched the negotiations on 1 March in Rabat.
The DCFTA will be an important step towards gradually integrating the Moroccan economy into the EU single market, removing obstacles to trade both at the border and behind the border, noted an EU statement.
Meeting in Rabat, negotiators will be starting talks on an agreement that is expected to deepen existing trade relations in a host of areas not yet covered, such as services and public procurement, as well as to bring better protection for investments, noted the statement.
"I hope the negotiations with Morocco will progress quickly and encourage other partners in the Southern Mediterranean region to start similar talks very soon," said EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht in a press statement in Brussels.
"These negotiations show the EU's strong commitment to further developing its trade and investment ties with Southern Mediterranean partners who are committed to political and economic reforms," he added. Â
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.