>Morocco's quest to be European
>
>
>
>By Morocco correspondent Nick Pelham
>King Hassan of Morocco once said that Morocco was a tree with its roots in
>Africa and its branches in Europe.
>
>Perched on the fringes of Africa, Europe and the Arab world, Morocco sits
>half-in, half-out of them all.
>
>
>After the acceptance of the Turkish candidature, EU membership for Morocco
>is no longer taboo
>
>
>King's spokesman Hassan Aourid
> It is an Arab state, but half its population speak either Berber or
> French as their mother tongue.
>
>It is African, but is estranged from the Organisation for African Unity.
>
>And for much of the last century, its policies were decided not in Rabat,
>but in Paris and Madrid.
>
>Renewed Europe campaign
>
>Morocco has been renewing its bid lately for membership of the European Union.
>
>During his state visit to France on 20 March, Morocco's new king, Mohammed
>VI - known to Moroccans as M6 - called for a new relationship between EU
>and its southern neighbours.
>
>
>King Mohammed VI has been seeking France's help for EU membership
>
> "After the acceptance of the Turkish candidature, EU membership for
> Morocco is no longer taboo," said the king's spokesman, Hassan Aourid.
>
>There has been little enthusiasm from Europe.
>
>Many Europeans look askance at a Muslim entry into what remains "a
>Christian club".
>
>The EU ambassador in Morocco, Lucio Guerrato, said "an evolution to
>integration was possible", but was careful not to commit himself to a time
>frame.
>
>European politicians often see Morocco as a source of illegal migration,
>hashish and cheap labour.
>
>France made little response to the new king's appeal for support for its
>EU application.
>
>But from Morocco, the division of the world into separate blocs - Africa
>and Europe - looks artificial.
>
>Trade links
>
>Separated from Europe by the Straits of Gibraltar a mere 14 km wide, its
>economic and strategic interests are firmly rooted in states to the north.
>
>Over 60% of Morocco's exports go to EU markets, Europe provides most of
>Morocco's tourists, remittances and loans.
>
>
>Ex-King Hassan's plan for a bridge across the Straits never materialised
>
> Morocco is also the biggest recipient of EU development aid.
>
>Morocco broke new ground earlier this year, when it became the second
>North African state (after Tunisia) to start implementing an EU
>Association accord.
>
>It paves the way for tariff-free trade between the kingdom and the EU by 2012.
>
>Scores of European textile companies have already relocated to Morocco to
>take advantage of cheap labour ahead of a common market which could soon
>stretch from Lapland to the Sahara.
>
>But Morocco would like to see the remit of the accord go far further: it
>believes a free movement of labour should accompany the free movement in goods.
>
>Historical connections
>
> >From the Romans onwards, Morocco's history has also been interwoven with
> Europe.
>
>In the 12th and 13th century Spain was ruled from Marakesh.
>
>And another sign of its European proximity: its food is the least spicy in
>North Africa.
>
>But while hankering after European association, Morocco is also playing up
>its African credentials.
>
>Its bid to become the first African state to host the World Cup in 2006 is
>facing fierce competition from South Africa.
>
>So how likely is Morocco to enter Europe?
>
>A hint might lie in the fate of the bridge planned to span the Straits of
>Gibraltar.
>
>Announcing the project in 1988, the late King Hassan undertook to complete
>it before 2000. Work has yet to begin.
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