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Spanish Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Minister Luis Planas has said that Spain remains committed to boosting its stable and strategic relations with Morocco, regardless of the content of an upcoming EU Court of Justice (ECJ)’s ruling on EU-Morocco trade and fisheries agreements.
“If anyone believes that a ruling by the Court of Justice is going to call into question the stability of Morocco’s relationship with Spain or with the European Union, they are mistaken,” Planas told reporters after visiting a John Deere machinery factory in Parla, near Madrid.
Planas emphasized that Morocco’s relations are “positive and stable” with both Spain and the EU. “Whatever the outcome of tomorrow’s ruling, we are going to work to ensure they continue to be so,” the minister added.
Spain and four other European countries have supported the legality of the current agreements, Planas noted. He said they will take note of the European court’s decision “always with respect” and will apply the consequences of the situation.
The ECJ is set to rule Friday on the trade deal and fisheries pact between the EU and Morocco. In March, an advocate general of the Luxembourg-based court endorsed the trade agreement but was inclined to annul the fisheries deal, contending that the former treats Western Sahara territory and adjacent waters as “separate and distinct” from Morocco while the latter does not.
An advocate general’s conclusions are not binding, but the court takes them into account in most cases when delivering judgments. Some groups have challenged the agreements, claiming they were approved without the consent of the Sahrawi people and favor Morocco’s alleged “annexationist policies” in Western Sahara.
The court previously ruled in 2016 that trade and fisheries agreements only applied to Morocco’s internationally recognized territory, prompting renegotiations of the deals. The upcoming ruling will determine if those revised pacts adequately address the court’s earlier concerns.
Regardless of the outcome, Minister Planas’ comments show Spain’s commitment to maintaining strong ties with Morocco. The two countries, only 14 km apart across the Strait of Gibraltar, share deep economic, security and cultural links. Spain is a major trading partner and source of investment and tourism for Morocco.
After years of diplomatic rift over the Western Sahara issue, Madrid and Rabat have worked to get relations back on track. In April 2022, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez met with King Mohammed VI in Rabat, where they affirmed a “new stage” in bilateral ties based on “transparency, constant communication and mutual respect.”
The two leaders adopted a joint declaration signaling a new era of cooperation and partnership within the framework of the Treaty of Friendship, Good Neighborliness, Cooperation and Enhanced Political Dialogue.
Since then, Morocco and Spain have made significant progress in strengthening their ties in areas such as trade, investment, security, and cultural exchange.
Prime Minister Sánchez’s latest working visit to Rabat in February this year further underscored the commitment of both countries to deepening their strategic partnership and advancing shared interests in the region.
The EU court ruling will be closely watched on both sides of the Mediterranean, but Spanish officials appear confident it will not derail the renewed spirit of cooperation between the two kingdoms.
Source: Morocco word news
