The cooperation agreements with Maghreb countries : a contribution to the study of consistency of EEC development cooperation policy

Abstract

Object of this work are the Cooperation Agreements and related instruments such as the Protocols which integrate and modify them concluded by the Community and its Member States with the so-called Maghreb countries, i.e. Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria. Although these agreements were concluded separately by the Community with each Maghreb country, they were conceived as part of the same system and pursue the same objectives. The agreements are conceived as the main instrument used by the Community to encourage economic and social development of the countries of this geographic area. The keystone of the agreement is the preferential treatment based on the theory whereby development can be stimulated by an increase of exports. On this basis, Maghreb countries are granted unilateral duty-free entry of their products in the market of the EEC.