Morocco, EU to consider separately fishery cooperation
Morocco-European Union, Economics, 12/22/1999

Morocco and the European Union will be exploring separately new ways and opportunities for bilateral cooperation in the field of fisheries, said premier Abderrahmane Youssoufi after a meeting with European commissioner for agriculture and fisheries, Franz Fischler.

Morocco showed the European side there was no need for a joint group to be in charge of dialogue, he said adding another meeting will take place to assess findings by both sides. He renewed, he said, Morocco's stand not to pass a fishing accord with Brussels while being open to every kind of on-land cooperation.

Fischler termed meetings with Moroccan officials as "serious and constructive" and showed optimism as to possibilities to start mutually satisfactory cooperation in the field. A "political approach" is required, he said voicing hope for discussions to open the soonest possible.

In an earlier meeting, agriculture, rural development and fishery minister, Habib El Malki, said there were no talks between Morocco and the EU on the fishing issue.

With secretary of state to foreign affairs Taieb Fassi Fihri, Fischler examined overall bilateral cooperation and the new partnership agreement to come in force early next year. The official reiterated the Moroccan stand on fisheries and expounded the promotion strategy adopted for the sector as a key-factor in the country's socioeconomic development.

Previous Stories:
  Morocco decrees three-month stoppage for cephalopod fisheries   (12/16/1999)
  Morocco at ILO meeting on fishing industry   (12/14/1999)
  Port traffic increases by 8.6%   (12/10/1999)

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