AGREEMENT

in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Union and the Kingdom of Morocco on the amendment of Protocols 1 and 4 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

A. Letter from the Union

Dear Sir,

I write with reference to the negotiations that took place as part of 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 (‘the Association Agreement’), concerning the amendment of certain protocols to the Agreement.

Following those negotiations, the European Union and the Kingdom of Morocco have agreed the following:

This Agreement is concluded without prejudice to the respective positions of the European Union with regard to the status of Western Sahara and of the Kingdom of Morocco with regard to that region.

Both parties reaffirm their support for the United Nations process and back the efforts made by the Secretary-General to reach a definitive political settlement in line with the principles and objectives of the Charter of the United Nations and based on the Resolutions of the UN Security Council.

The European Union and the Kingdom of Morocco agreed to insert the joint declaration below, after Protocol 4 to the Association Agreement.

‘Joint declaration concerning the application of Protocols 1 and 4 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 (“the Association Agreement”) 1. Products originating in Western Sahara subject to controls by customs authorities of the Kingdom of Morocco shall benefit from the same trade preferences as those granted by the European Union to products covered by the Association Agreement. 2. Protocol 4 shall apply mutatis mutandis for the purposes of defining the originating status of the products referred to in paragraph 1, including with regard to proof of origin ( 1 ) 3. The customs authorities of the Member States of the European Union and of the Kingdom of Morocco shall be responsible for ensuring that Protocol 4 is applied to those products.’

The European Union and the Kingdom of Morocco reaffirm their commitment to applying the protocols in accordance with the provisions of the Association Agreement concerning respect for fundamental freedoms and human rights.

The insertion of the joint declaration is based on the long-standing special partnership between the European Union and the Kingdom of Morocco, as notably embodied in the advanced status awarded to the Kingdom of Morocco, and on the parties' shared desire to deepen and expand the partnership.

In this spirit of partnership and in order to allow the parties to assess the impact of the Agreement, particularly on sustainable development and with regard to the advantages for the people concerned and the exploitation of the natural resources of the territories in question, the European Union and the Kingdom of Morocco have agreed to exchange information at least once a year by means of the Association Committee.

The specific arrangements for this evaluation exercise will be determined at a later date before being adopted by the Association Committee at the latest two months after the entry into force of this Agreement.

This Agreement can be applied provisionally by mutual agreement notified by an exchange of notifications between the parties, with effect from the date of the signature authorised by the Council of the European Union.

This Agreement takes effect the day after the date on which the parties notify the completion of the internal procedures for its adoption.

I would be obliged if you would confirm that your Government is in agreement with the above.

Yours faithfully,

Съставено в Брюксел на

Hecho en Bruselas, el

V Bruselu dne

Udfærdiget i Bruxelles, den

Geschehen zu Brüssel am

Brüssel,

Έγινε στις Βρυξέλλες, στις

Done at Brussels,

Fait à Bruxelles, le

Sastavljeno u Bruxellesu

Fatto a Bruxelles, addì

Briselē,

Priimta Briuselyje,

Kelt Brüsszelben,

Magħmul fi Brussell,

Gedaan te Brussel,

Sporządzono w Brukseli, dnia

Feito em Bruxelas,

Întocmit la Bruxelles,

V Bruseli

V Bruslju,

Tehty Brysselissä

Utfärdat i Bryssel den

За Европейския съюз Рог la Unión Europea Za Evropskou unii For Den Europæiske Union Für die Europäische Union Euroopa Liidu nimel Για την Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση For the European Union Pour l'Union européenne Za Europsku uniju Per l'Unione europea Eiropas Savienības vārdā – Europos Sąjungos vardu Az Európai Unió részéről Għall-Unjoni Ewropea Voor de Europese Unie W imieniu Unii Europejskiej Pela União Europeia Pentru Uniunea Europeană Za Európsku úniu Za Evropsko unijo Euroopan unionin puolesta För Europeiska unionen

B. Letter from the Kingdom of Morocco

Dear Sir,

I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of today's date, which reads as follows:

‘Dear Sir, I write with reference to the negotiations that took place as part of 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 (‘the Association Agreement’), concerning the amendment of certain protocols to the Agreement. Following those negotiations, the European Union and the Kingdom of Morocco have agreed the following: This Agreement is concluded without prejudice to the respective positions of the European Union with regard to the status of Western Sahara and of the Kingdom of Morocco with regard to that region. Both parties reaffirm their support for the United Nations process and back the efforts made by the Secretary-General to reach a definitive political settlement in line with the principles and objectives of the Charter of the United Nations and based on the Resolutions of the UN Security Council. The European Union and the Kingdom of Morocco agreed to insert the joint declaration below, after Protocol 4 to the Association Agreement. ‘Joint declaration concerning the application of Protocols 1 and 4 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 (“the Association Agreement”) 1. Products originating in Western Sahara subject to controls by the customs authorities of the Kingdom of Morocco shall benefit from the same trade preferences as those granted by the European Union to products covered by the Association Agreement. 2. Protocol 4 shall apply mutatis mutandis for the purposes of defining the originating status of the products referred to in paragraph 1, including with regard to proof of origin ( 2 ) 3. The customs authorities of the Member States of the European Union and of the Kingdom of Morocco shall be responsible for ensuring that Protocol 4 is applied to those products.’ The European Union and the Kingdom of Morocco reaffirm their commitment to applying the protocols in accordance with the provisions of the Association Agreement concerning respect for fundamental freedoms and human rights. The insertion of the joint declaration is based on the long-standing special partnership between the European Union and the Kingdom of Morocco, as notably embodied in the advanced status awarded to the Kingdom of Morocco, and on the parties' shared desire to deepen and expand the partnership. In this spirit of partnership and in order to allow the parties to assess the impact of the Agreement, particularly on sustainable development and with regard to the advantages for the people concerned and the exploitation of the natural resources of the territories in question, the European Union and the Kingdom of Morocco have agreed to exchange information at least once a year by means of the Association Committee. The specific arrangements for this evaluation exercise will be determined at a later date before being adopted by the Association Committee at the latest two months after the entry into force of this Agreement. This Agreement can be applied provisionally by mutual agreement notified by an exchange of notifications between the parties, with effect from the date of the signature authorised by the Council of the European Union. This Agreement takes effect the day after the date on which the parties notify the completion of the internal procedures for its adoption. I would be obliged if you would confirm that your Government is in agreement with the above.’

I am able to confirm that my Government is in agreement with the contents of your letter.

Yours faithfully,

Съставено в Брюксел на

Hecho en Bruselas, el

V Bruselu dne

Udfærdiget i Bruxelles, den

Geschehen zu Brüssel am

Brüssel,

Έγινε στις Βρυξέλλες, στις

Done at Brussels,

Fait à Bruxelles, le

Sastavljeno u Bruxellesu

Fatto a Bruxelles, addì

Briselē,

Priimta Briuselyje,

Kelt Brüsszelben,

Magħmul fi Brussell,

Gedaan te Brussel,

Sporządzono w Brukseli, dnia

Feito em Bruxelas,

Întocmit la Bruxelles,

V Bruseli

V Bruslju,

Tehty Brysselissä

Utfärdat i Bryssel den

За Кралство Мароко Por el Reino de Marruecos Za Marocké království For Kongeriget Marokko Für das Königreich Marokko Maroko Kuningriigi nimel Για το Βασίλειο του Μαρόκου For the Kingdom of Morocco Pour le Royaume du Maroc Za Kraljevinu Maroko Per il Regno del Marocco Marokas Karalistes vārdā – Maroko Karalystės vardu A Marokkói Királyság részéről Għar-Renju tal-Marokk Voor het Koninkrijk Marokko W imieniu Królestwa Marokańskiego Pelo Reino de Marrocos Pentru Regatul Maroc Za Marocké kráľovstvo Za Kraljevino Maroko Marokon kuningaskunnan puolesta För Konungariket Marocko

(1) The Kingdom of Morocco customs authorities shall be responsible for applying the provisions of Protocol 4 for the products referred to in paragraph 1.

(2) The Kingdom of Morocco customs authorities shall be responsible for applying the provisions of Protocol 4 for the products referred to in paragraph 1.