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EU-Morocco Advanced Status
Priority for Human Rights in the Strengthening of EU-Morocco Relations
On the occasion of the EU-Morocco Association Council held on October 13, 2008, the EU and Morocco reinforced their relations by adopting a new roadmap aimed at granting Morocco advanced status. Morocco is thus the first country of the Euro-Mediterranean partnership to concretise relations with the EU within the new framework of the European Neighbourhood Policy.
The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network (EMHRN) and International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH) consider that Morocco’s advanced status must provide a framework to support democratic reform and the respect of Human Rights in Morocco. Our two organisations note with satisfaction that the gradual integration of Morocco into the Council of Europe Convention is part of these new relations.
The EMHRN and FIDH recalled that democratic reforms and the respect of Human Rights are essential for the development of EU-Morocco relations towards an advanced status based on common values. Such advanced status must contribute to the consolidation of the progress and legislative reforms instigated by Morocco over the past decade.
The EMHRN and FIDH regretted that the authorities did not deem it necessary to fully associate civil society organisations in the elaboration of the roadmap, and that this roadmap was not made public. They called for structured discussions within the framework of political talks amongst Moroccan and European civil society groups in order to evaluate the Human Rights situation, as well as to develop and follow-up on the EU-Morocco roadmap. Our organisations would like this roadmap to define precise and concrete Human Rights objectives.
As such, our organisations have asked both the EU and Morocco to elaborate a transparent instrument which will enable the evaluation and follow-up of Human Rights commitments within the context of Morocco’s new advanced status, based on specific criteria, indicators, and a precise timetable.
The EMHRN and FIDH congratulated themselves on certain positive developments in regard to democratic reforms in Morocco. They reaffirmed that the recommendations elaborated by the Moroccan Equity and Reconciliation Commission (IER), published at the end of 2005, constitute a solid basis to prolong and support the reforms set off by the creation of the Consultative Council for Human Rights: implementation of the first transitional Justice instrument in the Arab world, creation of the Royal Institute of Amazigh Culture, reform of the Moudawana, etc. Nonetheless, as we approach the third anniversary of the publication of the IER report, the principal reforms suggested by this body (created upon the request of the Head of State, His Majesty King Mohamed VI) have yet to be carried out.
The EMHRN and FIDH are also worried about recent constraints concerning the freedom to gather and demonstrate.
Our organisations therefore call upon Moroccan authorities to enforce:
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the IER’s recommendations, including: constitutional reforms, reinforcement of the legal system’s independence, ratification of the Rome Statute, abolition of the death sentence, withdrawal of obstacles to conventions ratified by Morocco, notably those concerning the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, all of which were announced as of 2006;
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the promises made in the five-year Action Plan adopted at the Euro-Mediterranean Ministerial Conference held in Istanbul in November 2006 on strengthening the role of women in society; and
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the promises made by Morocco, notably regarding Human Rights priorities set forth in the EU-Morocco Action Plan within the context of the European Neighbourhood Policy.
The EMHRN and FIDH also called upon EU member states and Morocco to guarantee the respect of migrants’ rights - in particular those of refugees and asylum applicants, as well as migrant workers and their families. The respect of migrants’ Human Rights is a vital prerequisite to any readmission agreements signed between EU member states and Morocco. Such agreements are currently being negotiated.
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