Morocco and EU to resume technical talks over fisheries

Morocco and the European Union are presently in touch to resume "technical" talks on fisheries by end of next week, EU sources said.

However, no date was set for such talks to resume after the two sides parted more than a week ago without reaching any new fishery agreement.

Morocco and the EU renewed, during a visit this Jan.13-158 to Morocco by EC chairman, Romano Prodi, resolve to carry on negotiations to reach a mutually-profitable agreement.

Since the previous Morocco-EU fishery agreement expired in November 1999, over 500 European trawlers, mainly Spanish ones, stopped all fishing activities in Moroccan waters.

Negotiations are said to be stumbling over the agreement duration and compensation.