Fisheries minister renews morocco's will to resume negotiations with EU

Moroccan fisheries minister, Said Chbaatou, renewed Morocco's will to resume negotiations with the European Union on a new fisheries agreement.

The official told the Moroccan TV channel (2M) Europeans are not underestimating Moroccan efforts but are, rather, concerned by problems of their own fishermen. He added Morocco understands the European stance but cannot resolve the problems of all European seamen as it is facing biological and social constraints.

We have done all we could do and we will continue our efforts, he insisted.

To a question on whether Morocco is ready to negotiate separately with Spain, he answered that Morocco is negotiating with the European Union and respects the EU institutions.

Morocco refused to renew the previous agreement that allowed some 400 European trawlers, mostly Spanish and Portuguese ones, to operate in Moroccan waters. Since the agreement expired in November 1999, several rounds of technical and political negotiations have failed to reach an agreement.