Neighboorhood Policy

The european neighboorhood policy: a new framework for the relations

with Morocco and Algeria of the widened European Union.

The widening of the European Union offers the occasion to consolidate and look further into its relations with the countries bordering in the South. We will study the case of Morocco and Algeria; we will begin our analysis while showing which are the measures taken to ease the trade with EU. The second part we will show the consequences of these measures.

The area formed by the south of the Mediterranean has a vital strategic importance for the EU, which is regarded besides as an essential priority of the relations outsides of EU. To reinforce these relations with Morocco and Algeria, but also to create a space of dialogue, peace, of exchange, development of the economic and financial co-operation and in order to found a free trade area, several programs were set up. Following a first trade agreement, a new agreement succeeded in 1976 for Morocco and Algeria, container of the commercial provisions and a financial participation. The European Investment Bank to carried out for Morocco and Algeria in order to contribute to the socio-economic development. Morocco signed the association agreement (Barcelona process) on February 26, 1996. Algeria, as for it, signed this agreement on April 22, 2002. This agreement fixes the conditions necessary to freedom of movement of the people, the goods, the services and the capital; allows to develop economic and social relations and to reinforce the bonds existing between the European Communities and their Member States. The program Euro Morocco Entreprise (EME) was set up by the European Commission has for objective to improve competitiveness of Moroccan SME. A last program named MEDA was set up, this one is the principal financial instrument of the EU to the service of the acceleration of the various reforms of the companies of the Euro- Mediterranean partnership.

Thanks to all its programs, the trade and the FDI could be facilitated with the EU. Algeria made a remarkable effort with important falls of tariffs. Algeria also entered the final phase of the negotiations for its adhesion with WOT. The Moroccan trade is done for more half with Europe. Morocco is the first customer, supplier and partner of the EU. It is moreover, the first receiving country of the FDI in the African continent with 2,3 billion dollars in 2003, 70% of the FDI come from the EU. Europe thus became a strategic and privileged