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European Union foreign ministers will on Monday offer an "advanced status" to Morocco, which has for years been seeking deeper relations with the bloc, sources in Brussels said Friday.

Such a status, though it would have no extra legal weight, would place Morocco a notch above the members of the EU's ""neighbourhood policy" such as Egypt, Israel, Georgia and Ukraine.

In its last report on the neighbourhood policy, the European Commission judged that four countries merited stronger links with the 27-nation bloc; Ukraine and Israel, which have begun talks on enhanced agreements, and Morocco and Moldova, which is set to also receive a promise Monday of deeper ties.

Morocco has long sought such a boost in its European relations since entering an association agreement, similar to the "neighbourhood policy" system, back to 1996.

After months of negotiations with Rabat, the new upgraded status will be formally proposed at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg on Monday, according to draft text seen in Brussels.

The status will see a series of measures to boost ties.

EU-Morocco summits would be held regularly to enhance political ties and Morocco will also participate in European civil and military crisis management operations, under the proposals.

Morocco's enhanced relationship will also see stronger cooperation with the EU and the "progressive integration of Morocco in the EU's internal market," the text explains.

The "advanced status" would also include the setting up of a "common economic space" based on the rules of the European Economic Area, comprising the EU nations plus Iceland, Liechenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

Morocco will also be able to participate in a number of European agencies, such as Europol, the European Air Security Agency and the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction.

To help it attain this "advanced status," the European Union will increase its aid to Morocco, already the biggest beneficiary of European neighbourhood policy funds with 654 million euros earmarked for the 2007-2010 period.

http://www.morocconewsline.com/index...d=314&Itemid=1