Brussels, Oct 24 - The European Union has welcomed the reform of the Family law, known as "Mudawana", announced recently on Oct.10 by H.M King Mohammed VI at the parliament.

The reform aims, among other things, to implement the principle of equality between men and women, said the EU chairmanship in a statement published at the end of the third meeting of the EU-Morocco Association Committee held on October 21 in Rabat (Morocco).

The new Family Code that is still to be discussed by the parliament was welcomed as "revolutionary" both in Morocco and worldwide.

Under the new family law, women in Morocco are to win greater marriage and divorce rights, in line with the spirit of the Quran's teachings as was put by the Moroccan monarch. The minimum age for women to marry is to be raised from 15 to 18, to equal that of men, and women will get property rights in the marriage. Women will also be able to divorce their husbands, rather than just the other way round, and unlike previous conditions, divorce will require a judge's approval.

The new law also sets stringent conditions that make polygamy almost impossible for men.