EU says Moroccan answer to its proposals over fishery unacceptable and insufficient
Morocco-European Union, Economics, 9/30/2000

The European Union said Moroccan answers to proposals it made at the meeting this September 28-29 on fisheries are "unacceptable and insufficient."

A EU spokesman told MAP the European commissioner for fisheries, Franz Fishler, will get in touch "immediately" with Moroccan officials to ask for a meeting the soonest. Europeans want the meeting to be held before end of November, one year after the fishery agreement between Morocco and the Union expired.

During the sessions held in Brussels, European officials proposed the resumption of direct fishing activities in Morocan waters and suggested measures to re-structure and develop the Moroccan fishery sector.

Under the previous agreement, some 600 European boats, mainly Spanish, fished in Moroccan waters in exchange for financial compensation. Morocco, fearing an exhaustion of its resources as a result of massive fishing, refused to renew the agreement and proposed a new partnership formula meant to develop the sector and protect its depleting resources.

The European commissioner is scheduled to meet next Monday Portuguese and Spanish ministers in charge of fisheries.

The Moroccan negotiators said the Brussels meeting was an opportunity for Morocco to expound its strategy to develop the sector. The strategy seeks to preserve the sea biologic riches of the Moroccan exclusive economic area, the promotion of professionals and the development of various sectors associated with fishing.

European officials also expounded the EU approach on how to support Morocco's drives to develop its fishing sector, says a statement released by the Moroccan delegation.

Previous Stories:
  Moroccan - EU fishery dialog resumes in Brussels   (9/28/2000)
  Morocco, European Union resume fish negotiations thursday   (9/27/2000)
  To discuss the fishery file, resuming the negotiations with EU   (9/19/2000)

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