Morocco, EU hold new round of negotiations on fisheries

Morocco and the European Union resumed this Thursday in Brussels technical negotiations on fisheries.

The EU will make new proposals to Morocco, spokesman for the European Commission of agriculture and fisheries told MAP bureau here without unveiling the contents of these proposals.

This new technical round follows the clarification meeting held on January 25 in Rabat. The two delegations had then said progress was scored but difficulties were persisting.

The agriculture and fisheries commission spokesman had then described the Rabat round as "constructive" and said "progress has been scored," but the two sides "have not yet reached an agreement."

Head of the Moroccan delegation to the Rabat negotiations had said "we are moving forward and each side is showing good will," conceding that "a great deal of difficulties still exist."

Moroccan-European fishery negotiations started last September but failed to reach agreement on the renewal of a fishery accord.

Negotiations are stumbling over several issues, mainly the duration of the accord-- Morocco wants it not to exceed 2 years while the EU seeks to strike a deal for 4 to 5 years--, the number of European trawlers to be allowed to operate in Moroccan grounds, the amount of the financial compensation to be granted to Morocco and other technical aspects.

Since the latest fisheries accord between Morocco and the European Union expired on November 30, 1999, more than 500 European trawlers, mostly Spanish, are forced to berth.