European commission voices concern over fishery talks with Morocco

The European Commission asked Moroccan ambassador to the European Union Aicha Belarbi to convey concern of the Commission president Romano Prodi over the "collapse" of the latest round of fishery talks held Jan.9 in Rabat.

An EC release circulated Wednesday in Brussels said Prodi invited the Moroccan side to more realism recalling how the union's ministers council mandate sought financial compensation proportional to fishing capacity offered to the European fleet.

Prodi's visit to the kingdom Jan.13-15 will be a major opportunity to promote ties with the union and re-energize the Barcelona process, the release said.

The spokesman for fisheries in Brussels specified that Prodi's visit to Rabat was not connected to fishery talks, conceding however the issue would be raised at the "political level."