EU enhances cooperation with Morocco

Leaders of the European Union (EU) and Morocco will meet over the weekend in the historic city of Granada in south Spain to enhance the good relationship built up in recent years.

Prior to the summit meeting, a business meeting was held Saturday afternoon by the Confederation of Employers and Industries of Spain and by the General Confederation of Businesses of Morocco. The representatives analyzed new opportunities in the transport, logistics, infrastructure, energy and renewable energy sectors.

Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero will host the summit, attended by other European representatives, including European Council President Herman Van Rompuy and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso.

Morocco's Prime Minister Abbas El Fassi will be accompanied by his ministers of foreign affairs, economy and finance, agriculture and fisheries, education, industry, trade and new technologies, and foreign trade.

The leaders will discuss the economic crisis, climate change, immigration and other issues.

The EU-Morroco summit has been a special effort by Spain, which hopes to build a bridge between the European Union and Africa.

In the short term, the objective is to discuss economic cooperation in specific areas between the EU and Morocco, while in the long run the aim is to build a common economic area.

Source: Xinhua