Fisheries accord with Morocco, an 'urgent priority' to EU
Morocco-European Union, Economics, 1/15/2005

European Commissioner for Fisheries, Joe Borg, stated Thursday that the conclusion of a fisheries accord with Morocco is an "urgent priority" for the European Union (EU).

Borg, cited by Europapress agency, said he will find the "right moment to propose a new fisheries accord" with Morocco after the expiration of the previous one in 1999.

Such an agreement will have be to ratified by the European Commission, the Ministers council and the European parliament, he pointed out at the end of a meeting with president of the autonomous government of Andalusia, Manuel Chaves.

Borg expressed confidence that an accord would be reached between Morocco and the EU in a "relatively short time."

On his part, Chaves called for profiting of the improvement of Spain-Morocco relations to conclude the accord, noting that the upcoming visit of king Juan Carlos to Morocco (January 17-19) would further consolidate the good relations between the two countries.

The president of the Autonomous government of Andalusia did not confirm if negotiations between Morocco and the EU would include agriculture compensations for the North African country.

He noted, nonetheless, that the result of investigations conducted by Morocco and Spain on the condition of water resources in Moroccan waters will be decisive in the determination of the duration of the fisheries accord.

The problems hampering the conclusion of the accord may not be exclusively emanating from the Moroccan side but also from the EU, he pointed out, calling the European Union to use "its persuasion power" so that eventual accords with countries like Morocco and Mauritania include the necessary mechanisms to guarantee the protection of resources.

Last Monday, the Spanish Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, Elena Espinosa, held the previous government of JosŽ Maria Aznar responsible for the non-renewal of the fisheries accord between Morocco and the European Union. She voiced hope the Spanish government will solve the problem of the fleet that operated in Moroccan territorial waters before November 1999.

Previous Stories:
  Morocco, EU agree on gradual liberalization of agriculture trade   (10/27/2003)
  Morocco willing to carry on fishery negotiations with EU in the frame of fair partnership, official   (4/27/2001)
  Morocco does not shoulder failure of fishery negotiations with EU   (4/26/2001)

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