New round of Morocco-EU fisheries talks

Moroccan and European officials are carrying on this Wednesday talks meant to settle the pending issues over a new fisheries agreement.

On Tuesday, European agriculture and fisheries commissioner, Franz Fischler, met Moroccan secretary of state for foreign affairs and cooperation, Taieb Fassi Fihri.

Morocco has refused to renew in November 1999 the fisheries agreement with the European Union, under which some 600 European trawlers, mostly Spanish ones, used to conduct direct fishing activities in Moroccan waters. Morocco has been pressing Europe for a new form of cooperation that would preserve its sea wealth and develop the local fishing sector.

Negotiations are stumbling over the agreement duration -- Morocco insists it should be less than 3 years-- the number of European trawlers to be allowed in Moroccan grounds, the amount of the financial compensation to be granted to Morocco and other technical aspects.