The European Court of Justice annulled two trade agreements between Morocco and the EU on Wednesday, September 29. One relates to agricultural products and the other to fisheries. In response, the EU and Morocco announced their commitment to continue their trade partnership.

The General Court of the European Union annulled Wednesday, September 29 two trade agreements between Morocco and the EU, one on agricultural products and the other on fishing following an appeal by the Saharawi separatists of the Front Polisario.

“The Court annuls the decisions of the Council (of the EU) relating, on the one hand, to the agreement between the EU and Morocco modifying the tariff preferences granted by the EU to products of Moroccan origin as well as, on the other hand, to their partnership agreement in the field of sustainable fishing ”, specifies a long-awaited judgment of the Luxembourg-based Tribunal. These agreements will, however, remain in force for two months “in order to preserve the Union’s external action and the legal certainty of its international commitments”, according to the judgment.

Trade partnership continues between the EU and Morocco

Following this decision, the EU and Morocco pledged to continue their trade partnership. “We will take the necessary measures to ensure the legal framework which guarantees the continuation and stability of trade relations between the European Union and the Kingdom of Morocco”, affirm the head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, and his Moroccan counterpart Nasser Bourita in a joint statement published in Brussels.