Morocco tries not to renew fishing treaty with Europe

Moroccan economic sources confirmed that the European Union will compensate Morocco with 140 million eco ( 1.5 billion dirham). This amount includes permit costs for fishing in Moroccan territorial waters in the third year of the Fishing Treaty, which was signed by the two sides in Brussels at the end of 1995. EU

The Moroccan Ministry of Commercial Navigation and Fishing said that the Moroccan-European Committee will discuss the outcome of the treaty after two years of application. Morocco intends not to renew the treaty after it expires in 1999.

The relations between the European Union and Morocco recently witnessed an exchange of accusations from both sides regarding violations of the treaty after unlicensed Spanish ships fished in the southern areas. Morocco had also accused some Spanish ships of using internationally banned fishing nets. Meanwhile the European Union requested holding an emergency meeting of the Committee but Rabat refused it at the time.