Negotiations between Morocco and the European Union (EU) on a deep and comprehensive free trade agreement resumed on Monday in Brussels, the Moroccan Ministry of Trade said in a statement.

The negotiations will focus on services, the only major economic area that is not covered by the existing agreements between the EU and Morocco, as well as all regulatory issues in the field of business, including intellectual property, competition policy, investment and technical barriers to trade, the statement said.

The EU also intends to conclude new generation of free trade agreements with Jordan, Tunisia and Egypt.

Morocco is the first country in the southern Mediterranean region with which the EU has initiated negotiations on such an agreement.