Introduction - Investing into North African Solar Power - page 8

resentments 49 make cooperation impossible at present. Most of the RECs are not
integrated regionally and are hampered by internal conflicts. 50

1.1.2.2 Morocco

At the moment, only Morocco appears to be a suitable partner for the implemen-
tation of a solar thermal project. Besides its good relations with the EU, 51 Morocco
is frequently described as the most dynamic Arab state within a conflict-ridden
region. 52 Morocco is a constitutional monarchy and an Islamic country, 53 with King
Mohammed VI leading the country since 1999. 54 Over the past few years, there has
been progress towards the modernization and democratization of Morocco, espe-
cially in the field of human rights. 55 This is also underlined by the recent referen-
dum concerning a reform of the constitution to restrict the king

s power. A total of
98.49 % of the population voted for the reform, which was initially organized by the
king himself. 56 Morocco is also very committed to the fight against terrorism,
which is reflected in the 2003 Terrorism Act. 57 Morocco

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s laws are influenced
more by the West than other Islamic states and are, in fact, very similar to French
laws. 58 Due to its experience with PPPs 59 and the existing solar thermal power
plants in Morocco, 60 it is a suitable partner for the abovementioned project.

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49 Muchie et al. ( 2006 ), 3 (16).
50 Integration, in: Brenton et al. ( 2006 ), 3-5; Conflicts, in: Wippel ( 2005 ), 5 (7); West Sahara
Conflict, in: European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument ( 2007 ), 9; Werenfels and
Westphal ( 2010 ), 1 (33).
51 Statute avanc ´ , in: European Commission ( 2010b ); Werenfels and Westphal ( 2010 ), 1 (21);
Many European states value the stabilizing factor of Morocco within North Africa, in: Kausch
( 2009 ), 165 (166) and (171-175).
52 Maghraoui ( 2009 ), 143 (143); Some authors mention that the good reputation of Morocco only
result from their very good PR work, in: Kausch ( 2009 ), 165 (170).
53

European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument ( 2007 ), 8; European Commission

( 2004a ), 5.
54

Joff ´ ( 2009 ), 151 (154); Kausch ( 2009 ), 165 (166); European Commission ( 2004a ), 8.

55

So far democracy is not reality in Morocco, in: Maghraoui ( 2009 ), 143 (144); European
Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument ( 2007 ), 8.
56 n-tv.de ( 2011 ).
57 European Commission ( 2004a ), 10.
58 Deutsche Industrie- und Handelskammer in Marokko ( 2008 ), 9; Kutty ( 2006 ), 565 (595).
59 BOTs, in: Badawi ( 2003 ), 3.
60 Jaouad ( 2010 ).