Assahraa Al Maghribia: Morocco rules out fishing accord with EU for the time being

Morocco's fisheries minister, Mohamed Tayeb Rhafes, said "a new fishing accord with the European Union is not projected for the time being."

Rhafes told Moroccan Arabic daily "Assahraa Al Maghribia" Morocco will focus, in any new negotiations with the EU, on socio-economic aspects and on other factors to safeguard the Kingdom's interests.

He further said that King Mohammed VI's initiative to allow Spanish vessels access to Morocco's Exclusive Economic Zone "is an exceptional measure that has no link whatsoever with any negotiation process with the EU."

He stressed however that "the king's decision will have positive effects on Morocco-Spain relations that were strained these last months in a way that did not serve the two countries bilateral relations."

Touching on fisheries prospects in the foreseeable future, the Moroccan official said that his department "is working on a five-year program" related to investment, fishing industry, marketing, environment and social economics' realms.