In a press conference, following the 8th meeting of the Morocco-EU Association Council, Swedish Frank Belfarge, whose country assumes the presidency of the EU, underlined that the summit, to take place at the first quarter of 2010, shows the importance of reinforcing relations for both parties.
    The European official voiced satisfaction at the results of the meeting which was marked by a new step towards fostering bilateral relations. He recalled that Morocco and the EU have started, for a year now, the implementation of an advanced status, adding that a major progress was made ever since.
    Morocco is a strategic partner for the EU and this meeting enabled the exchange of constructive points of view on several regional and international issues of common interests, he said.
    For her part, European commissioner for external affairs, Benita Ferrero Waldner, said that in five years of the neighborhood policy between Morocco and the EU, the two parties made strides forwards. Morocco made major achievements in political, economic, and agricultural fields, she added.
    Morocco has remarkably bolstered cooperation with the European Council and became the first non-European country with a membership in the north-south center of the Council, Ferrero Waldner said.