EU Commission adopts 2012 Action Programme for Morocco worth 112 million Euros

The Commission adopted its Action Programme 2012 in favor of Morocco. This program, totaling 112 million euros, aims to support the reform efforts of the Moroccan government in two areas: first, policy management and forest protection and, secondly The reform of financial management and public administration.

"I think these new allocations fully reflect the priorities of the partnership between the EU and Morocco in the new neighborhood policy: a policy more effective and accessible for citizens and one Moroccan Moroccan regional development with a balanced use of resources country's natural, "said Štefan Fule, European Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy.

The support program for forest policy, a $ 37 million, will support the efforts already made by the Executive Morocco to fight against the degradation of forest resources and improve incomes and living conditions of local populations of these vulnerable ecosystems. This particular program will help to improve the conservation and development of existing forest resources. It will promote greater participation of local people in decisions affecting their habitat area, by promoting the products of sustainable exploitation of the forest.

The program "Hakama" ("Governance") - with a budget of 75 million euros - will continue its efforts in mobilizing more efficient and equitable public funding and to strengthen the performance and transparency of management of public expenditure, particularly through the implementation of the Organic Law of Finance to be adopted later in the year 2012. The program will also support improving the quality of public services.

In complement to the allocation of this 112 mil. € The European Commission has also granted an additional 80 million euros in Morocco under the program SPRING (Support for Partnership, Reform and Inclusive Growth). This additional allocation announced by the Commissioner Stefan Fule at the last Association Council held in April, comes in consecration of the reforms undertaken by Morocco. The SPRING program, with a total budget of more than 500 million euros for 2011-2013, aims to provide increased support to the South of the Mediterranean in the process of democratization.