Declaration of the creation of a Free Trade Zone encompassing the Mediteranean Arab countries
Non official Translation
Morocco, Jordan, Tunisia and Egypt have resolved to work for the establishment of an enlarged Free Trade Zone encompassing the Arab Mediterranean countries.
The four countries charged a group of experts to sustain the political framework and set up the mechanisms required for the creation of the aforementioned Zone.
On Tuesday 8 May 2001, at the Royal Palace in Agadir, His Majesty King Mohammed VI, accompanied by His Royal Highness Prince Moulay Rachid, presided the signing ceremony.
The text of the declaration was signed by:
- Mr. Mohammed Benaissa, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation on behalf of the Government of the Kingdom of Morocco.
- Mr. Abdelilah Alkhatib, Minister of Foreign Affairs on behalf of the Government of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
- Mr. Amr Moussa, Minister of Foreign Affairs on behalf of the Government of the Arab Republic of Egypt.
- Mr. Habib Ben Yahya, Minister of Foreign Affairs on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Tunisia.
“At the initiative of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, and in application of the resolutions of the 13th Arab Summit held in Amman, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Governments of the Kingdom of Morocco, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Republic of Tunisia and the Arab Republic of Egypt,
Convinced of the importance of sustaining common Arab cooperation, and in order to establish and develop the Great Arab Free Trade Zone and contribute to the efforts exerted with a view to creating a common Arab market,
Given the bilateral agreements binding these countries, and in connection with the partnership conventions concluded with the European Union,
Convinced of the necessity to establish a strong economic space with a view to achieving a global development susceptible of standing up to the challenges, the constraints and the requirements of globalization, in conformity with the Charter of the Arab League and with the principles stipulated in the conventions of the World Trade Organization,
In prospect of the 2010 events related to the creation of a Euro-Mediterranean Free Trade Zone,
Considering the significance of the action for the liberalization of economic exchanges and the importance of partnership among the Mediterranean Arab countries, through new methods adapted to modern economic orientations at the regional and international levels,
The following has been decided:
1- Work for the creation of an enlarged Free Trade Zone encompassing the Mediterranean Arab countries, open to other Arab countries.
2- Charge groups of experts, representing the four Member States, to sustain the political framework and set up the mechanisms required for the creation of the said Zone.
3- Hold periodical meetings of the groups of experts with a view to preparing the draft convention on the creation of the enlarged Free Trade Zone.
4- Set up a High Official Committee charged with assessing the reports of the groups of experts with a view to submit a global approach, as soon as possible, to the Foreign Affairs Ministers”.