David Martin: Morocco deal can bring its people real benefits

YESTERDAY the European Parliament voted in Strasbourg to liberalise trade between the European Union and Morocco with regard to agricultural and fishery products.

The agreement liberalises, with immediate effect, 55 per cent of tariffs on EU agricultural and fisheries products and 70 per cent of tariffs on Moroccan products within ten years.

Agriculture accounts for 38 per cent of the Moroccan workforce, with peaks of 75 per cent in rural areas, so this agreement will have a substantial effect in boosting trade and development.

This was a contentious debate and vote, based on an accompanying resolution which I drew up for the Committee on International Trade. It was contentious because of the illegal occupation of Western Sahara.

In coming to difficult decisions over expanding trade with various countries, where human rights and democracy are not what we would want them to be, it is always a question: “Will this action hinder or help the movement toward democracy?” On balance, the answer here was a guarded “yes”.

However, as was made clear by the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the debate, our consent to this trade agreement does not imply any approval for the illegal occupation of the Western Sahara by Morocco.

This is a clear commitment for future co-operation with Morocco. Only in dialogue will we be able to solve other serious questions, including the Western Sahara.

The European Parliament is rightly in favour of the democratic transitions that are taking place as a result of the so-called Arab Spring, and are strongly in favour of measures encouraging economic stability in North Africa. We have made many promises to the Arab people. This agreement is one of our first chances to deliver on those commitments – to “walk the walk as well as talk the talk”.

Trade is not an end in itself but a tool to produce economic stability, reduce poverty and underwrite democracy. We should do our utmost to support well-functioning economies in our Southern Mediterranean neighbours – only when they are stable democracies will spring lead to summer.

• David Martin is a Labour MEP for Scotland.