The European Commission approved the second part of its 2013 action program for Morocco with 166.9 million euro ($220 million), the Moroccan news agency MAP reported on Wednesday.

The program aims to support the strategy of policy coordination between the North African country and the EU, the report said, adding that it reflected the commitment of the European Union (EU) toward Morocco and its economic and social development.

The funds are part of the second phase of the EU's support, which began in 2011, as part of the strategy of regulatory convergence implemented by Morocco since 2005.

The program will support the strengthening of the convergence process and policy coordination efforts in a number of priority sectors to the Moroccan authorities, said the report.

In 2008, Belgium granted Morocco some 87 million euro ($112 million) for a program aimed to "ensure success of the advanced status'' in partnership with EU to support the efforts made by Morocco to converge its legislation with that of the EU for the gradual integration of its economy into the European market.

The action program also aimed to further continue the EU's support to the Moroccan educational strategy launched in 2008 to ensure fair access to basic education and improve the quality of the educational system.