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Trade agreement encourages political and economic stability in Morocco

The European Parliament has voted today (16 February) on liberalising trade between the EU and Morocco for agricultural and fishery products. The agreement liberalises with immediate effect 55% of tariffs on EU agricultural and fisheries products and 70% of tariffs on Moroccan products within ten years.
 
Agriculture accounts for 38% of the Moroccan workforce, with peaks of 75% in rural areas.
 
David Martin, Scotland’s senior European MP, speaking from Strasbourg, said: "This is a clear commitment for future cooperation with Morocco. Only in dialogue will we be able to solve serious questions, including the Western Sahara."
 
Mr Martin, who is Labour’s spokesperson on International Trade and the author of this particular Report, explained: "The European Parliament is rightly in favour of the democratic transitions that are taking place in the so called 'Arab spring', and strongly in favour of measures encouraging economic stability in North Africa.  This agreement is our first chance to deliver on those commitments.
 
"Trade is not an end in itself but a tool to produce economic stability and reduce poverty.
 
"We should do our utmost to support well-functioning economies in our Southern Mediterranean neighbours" argued David Martin.
 
However, in conclusion, Mr Martin added a cautionary note: "We Socialists and Democrats also want to make clear that the consent to this Trade Agreement does not imply an approval for the illegal occupation of the Western Sahara by Morocco."