European official denies secret negotiations with Morocco on fisheries accord
Morocco-European Union, Politics, 7/12/1999

The head of the European Union delegation in Morocco, Luccio Guerrato, has denied the existence of "secret negotiations" between Morocco and the European Union regarding the fisheries accord binding the two sides, which expires next November.

Guerrato told the London-based Al-Hayat daily that this accord "will not be renewed, at least in its current form," underlining that, "There is however a ground of understanding."

Morocco has officially announced that it will not renew the Morocco - European Union four-year fisheries accord, under which nearly 600 European trawlers, mainly Spanish and Portuguese, operate in Moroccan waters.

The European official pleaded for a balance between Morocco's interests and preservation of its maritime resources and Spain's interests.

He said the EU shares Morocco's worry over its sea resources, as the depletion of these resources would be harmful to both Morocco and the Union. The EU agrees with Morocco as to the need to promote its own resources, he said.

Acting European Commissioner Emma Bonino said recently that the fisheries ministers of the European Union had asked early last June for the European commission to start negotiations with Morocco as soon as possible "to prospect new cooperation mechanisms satisfying both sides."

Negotiations will be conducted by the new European commissioners group that will take office probably in next September. Morocco is opposed to the renewal of the fisheries accord with the European Union after it expires next november 30, while Spain said it was ready to negotiate a different accord based on the creation of joint ventures.

Previous Stories:
  European Union starts informal contacts with Morocco on new fisheries accord, Bonino   (7/7/1999)
  Morocco:will not allow the European fleet to fish without just agreement   (7/2/1999)
  Morocco will not renew fisheries accord with European Union, under same terms   (6/25/1999)
  EIB financing in Morocco not to be affected by fisheries issue   (5/7/1999)

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