Spain Sets Unilaterally Maritime Borders For Canary Islands

Spanish authorities have delineated maritime borders for the Canary Islands without consultations with Morocco, MAP office in Brussels learned.

Furthermore, Spain resorted to the rule of equi-distance which is contrary to international law rules making this delineation devoid of any legal grounds.

European analysts say the measure is associated with the current context of fishery talks between Morocco and the European Union.

It is all the more surprising since Spanish foreign affairs minister Jose Pique said in an official statement last June that "Spain could not draw the median line between the Canary Islands and Africa, nor hand in a request to that effect, because it would be incompatible with international law."

The sixth round of Morocco-EU fishery talks in Brussels ended Tuesday in a stalemate, MAP reported.