LITHUANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF REFORMS IN MOROCCO
On 16 December in Brussels, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius highlighted the importance of reforms and called to continue them. At the meeting of the European Union - Morocco Association Council, the Lithuanian Foreign Minister represented the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton.
“The European Union strongly encourages the Government of Morocco to continue to pursue political, economic, and social reforms. The reforms that coincide with the expectations of the Moroccan people present a good opportunity to strengthen democratic institutions – the Parliament, the justice system, and the self-government – as well as to ensure respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the rights to freedom of association and to freedom of expression,” L.Linkevičius said.
The Lithuanian Foreign Minister stressed that in this area Morocco set an example to countries in the region, welcomed its cooperation with the Council of Europe, called for the adoption of the new Journalists’ Code, and asked the authorities to ensure the independence of judiciary.
L.Linkevičius welcomed the launching of negotiations for a free trade agreement this year and the signature of an agreement on opening negotiations on the facilitation of legal migration ensuring the return of illegal immigrants.
The Council adopted the Action Plan for 2013-2017, which launches a new phase of efforts aimed at a privileged partnership between the EU and Morocco. The participants of the meeting also welcomed the new Fisheries Partnership Agreement.
The Ministers debated the situation in North Africa – Mali, Libya, and Tunisia – as well as the question of Western Sahara, and cooperation within the United Nations, and the Union for the Mediterranean.
The meeting was attended by the newly appointed Moroccan Foreign Minister Salaheddine Mezouar, the EU Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy Štefan Füle, the Foreign Ministers of Spain and Portugal, and the Deputy Foreign Minister of Greece.
Social media
