Ministers back EC in bid to wrestle fishery accord with Morocco before 2001
Morocco-European Union, Economics, 12/15/2000

The fishery ministers' council of the European Union, meeting in Brussel December 14-15, voiced resolve to back the European Commission in efforts to reach by the end of the year a fishery agreement which satisfies the Union and Morocco.

The council recalled, however, the Nice European summit decision that short of an agreement with the kingdom, the Commission would hand in a specific action program to restructure the European fleet which used to operate in Moroccan waters.

Ministers invited the Commission to make proposals and maintain subsidies pending decision on the program and reached agreement on fish catches and quotas for member countries. They also adopted catches-reduction for specific species and a five-year preservation plan to help replenish stocks.

The European Commission (EC)informed the fishery ministers council on recent developments in talks with Morocco on a new framework for fishery relations.

EU and Moroccan delegations parted here Tuesday after a two-hour meeting saying the gap was still too wide and giving no date for a next round of talks.

Morocco turned down classic agreements arguing it was vital for the kingdom to preserve deteriorating fish-stocks and promote its own fishery sector.

Previous Stories:
  Moroccan, European delegations part with no date for resumption of fishery talks   (12/12/2000)
  President Wade voices hope Morocco would build new Dakar airport   (12/12/2000)
  Morocco, USA set up high-level joint commission   (12/12/2000)

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