Considerations on COM(2015)448 - Signature of the Agreement with Morocco concerning protection of geographical indications and designations of origin for agricultural products, fish and fishery products

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dossier COM(2015)448 - Signature of the Agreement with Morocco concerning protection of geographical indications and designations of origin for ...
document COM(2015)448 EN
date September 15, 2015
 
(1) On 14 November 2005 the Council authorised the Commission to conduct negotiations with the Kingdom of Morocco under the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Kingdom of Morocco, of the other part 1 (hereinafter the ‘Association Agreement’), with a view to further liberalisation of trade in agricultural products, processed agricultural products, fish and fishery products.
The negotiations were to focus in particular on the protection of geographical indications.

(2) The Agreement in the form of an exchange of letters between the European Union and the Kingdom of Morocco concerning reciprocal liberalisation measures on agricultural products, processed agricultural products, fish and fishery products, the replacement of Protocols No 1, 2 and 3 and their Annexes and amendments to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Kingdom of Morocco, of the other part 2 , (hereinafter the ‘Agreement on Agriculture’), approved by Council Decision 2012/497/EU 3 , entered into force on 1 October 2012.

(3) Article 9 of Protocol 1 and Article 8 of Protocol 2 to the Association Agreement, as amended by the Agreement on Agriculture, made provision for opening negotiations with a view to concluding an agreement on the protection of geographical indications for agricultural products, processed agricultural products, fish and fishery products, at the latest within three months of the date of entry into force of the said Protocols. The negotiations, which began in December 2012, have been successfully concluded and the Agreement has been initialled.

(4) The Agreement aims to promote and enhance quality production, foster geographical indications and designations of origin by ensuring their protection and facilitate bilateral trade under the terms of the Rabat Euro-Mediterranean Roadmap for Agriculture of 2005.

(5) The Parties have adopted convergent legislation on the protection of geographical indications and designations of origin in their respective territory.

(6) The Agreement will allow the protection of geographical indications and designations of origin.

(7) Each of the Parties has conducted an examination and public consultation on the protection of its geographical indications and designations of origin.

(8) The Agreement should therefore be signed on behalf of the Union, subject to its conclusion at a later date, and the Joint Declaration on the protection and promotion of geographical indications for agricultural products, processed agricultural products, fish and fishery products should be approved.