EU to undertake new diplomatic initiative to end deadlock with morocco over fisheries

European commissioner for fisheries, Franz Fishler, will undertake a new diplomatic initiative to end the Morocco-European Union deadlock over fisheries, said a source at the commission.

The source which did not specify a date said Fishler's initiative comes after the failure of last week's discussions over a new fisheries agreement between Morocco and the European Union.

On Friday, the European fisheries ministers council said it is determined to support the commission to reach, before end of this year, a new fisheries agreement that would satisfy both Morocco and the European Union. In case no agreement is signed, the commission would work out a program to restructure the European fleet that used to operate in Moroccan waters and that was brought to forced mooring in November 1999 after Morocco refused to renewed the fisheries agreement.

The commission proposed that pending an agreement, it should propose an extension of the present system of assistance to the European boats.