Twenty Years of Euro-Mediterranean Relations by Richard Youngs

Author:Richard Youngs [Youngs, Richard]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781138101319
Goodreads: 28289208
Publisher: Routledge
Published: 2015-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

Coping with European Conditionalities: Effects on Economic and Social Rights

We shall now turn to an examination of the space devoted to social and economic rights as a specific concern for bilateral co-operation with the EU. The first matter of interest is the proportion and intensity of co-operation specifically dealing with the issue. In the case of Morocco, one has to acknowledge the existence of targeted efforts: according to field observers, the passage from the MEDA I to the MEDA II financial framework of co-operation reveals renewed attention for social issues. The social dimension is now considered to be a fundamental platform for any success in economic reforms. The list of new objectives matching this new philosophy is rather impressive and includes: institutional support to professional associations, the upgrading of technical and professional training, social housing in Tangier, health management in the eastern region, support to job creation and reforming medical insurance [Masson, 2003]. It is still too early to assess the results of this new impulse. However, classical commentaries continue to be relevant, most notably about the bureaucratic obstacles still hindering the effective disbursement of funds, making it nearly impossible to respect global schemes.21 The main difference between the Moroccan and the European point of view on the issue is that they each regularly blame their counterpart, criticizing the slowness and complexity of each other’s procedures.

In the donor’s rationale, the possibility of including conditionalities in co-operation programmes is a step further in enhancing the chances of meeting specific objectives. The effects are, in fact, still rather unconvincing in the case of Morocco. As a general background, the European Commission has appeared more committed to the implementation of economic rather than political conditionalities in Morocco. The 1999 review of the ‘Facilité d’ajustement structurel’ can here be quoted to illustrate the cool rule spirit that permeates the Euro-Moroccan relationship: the final statement of the European Delegation in Rabat is that out of the 24 conditions, 23 have been complied with.22 Only three conditions out of a list of 24 could be considered to really have a link with economic and social rights: the participation of private companies and NGOs in the new system of vocational training; the amelioration of the section of the 97/98 investment budget devoted to health expenses; and the presentation of an action plan for the reform of ‘L’entraide et la promotion nationales’, a local welfare system. One condition also was indirectly related: the necessity of providing a tentative programming of investment expenditures taking into account basic needs, notably health and education. Out of these four conditions that directly or indirectly affect the state of economic and social rights, only three were complied with. The picture is thus rather poor, as social matters are not considered as essential priorities in the co-operation contract. Yet again, one should take into account the redirection of priorities within the MEDA II financial envelope towards enhanced social conditionality.

Given the comprehensiveness of the Turkish conditionality framework, the effectiveness of European exigencies can be assessed through the regular Accession Report issued by the Commission [European Commission, 2003b].

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