Last month, a number of Spanish farmer unions, mainly from the regions of Murcia, Canaries, Valencia and Andalusia, demonstrated against opening up the European marked to Moroccan fresh products, and threatened to stage more demonstrations.

According to the Spanish website, ‘Typically Spanish', last months demonstration turned even violent.

These farmers are protesting against the amendment of a protocole of the partnership agreement binding Morocco and the European Union to further liberalise trade of agricultural and fishing products, arguing that there would be some job losses.

Concerned about this situation, the Moroccan Foreign Trade Minister, Abdellatif Maazouz, has established a Moroccan-Spanish joint commission to cope with these threats.

Maazouz said that he discussed this issue with his Spanish counterpart who visited Morocco last week, adding that the Spanish official promised to examine it with his regional officials to come up with an appropriate solution.

The Moroccan foreign trade minister pointed out that these reactions are motivated by a fear concerning the competitiveness of Moroccan agricultural products. He added that the Spanish farmers also intend to exert pressure on the European Commission.

Similar incidents had occurred in the past, as Spanish farmers tried to allow Moroccan produce to enter Europe through Spanish ports.


The EU is Morocco's first trade partner, accounting for nearly 60% of its total trade, mainly in textiles and agricultural goods. They had signed a free trade agreement, which came into effect on 1 March 2000.

On October 13, 2008, the EU granted Morocco an advanced status, by approving a package of measures designed to strengthen the partnership with the North African country.