European Union plans to support its Mediterranean partners Tunisia and Morocco to enable them adapt to the new economic environment following the elimination of the textile quotas in January 2005.
“I know that there are concerns in Tunisia and Morocco especially concerning the textile and apparel sector in the new trade world characterized by the free quotas. Europe, Tunisia and Morocco must collaborate in order to improve our mutual competitiveness,” said Peter Mandelson, EU trade commissioner, during his recent visit to Tunisia, adding that they are planning to develop a Euro-Mediterranean system which will allow the products manufactured with the contribution of more than one Mediterranean country to be transferred to the EU market without paying any customs tax.
Describing Maghreb countries as significant trade partners, Mandelson also stressed that Barcelona Process that was launched ten years ago has a very important role in the construction of a common future in Euro-Mediterranean area.
