Brussels, 11/02/2011 (Agence Europe) - As expected (see EUROPE 10312), on Friday 11 February, the European Commission adopted a draft negotiating mandate, addressed to the Council, to extend the fisheries agreement between the EU and Morocco by one year. The current agreement runs out on 27 February, and this further period of one year could then be used by the parties to negotiate a new agreement, while assessing information provided by the Moroccan authorities on the effect of the agreement on fish resources and the regional impact of EU funding.
The Commission will do all in its power to avoid any temporary cessation of activities for the Community fleet (119 vessels, 100 of which fly the Spanish flag, fish in Moroccan waters). The procedure to formally approve extending the current fisheries protocol for a year could over-run the expiry of the bilateral fisheries agreement by some time.
If the draft mandate is adopted by the Council, the Commission will open negotiations with Morocco. The approved text must be signed by both parties (the Commission on behalf of the EU and Morocco). The Commission will then submit two proposals for decision - one on conclusion and the other on signature and provisional application of the agreement. Once the Council has adopted the decision on signature and provisional application, and Morocco has also signed the protocol, it can be provisionally applied and fishing activities can resume. The decision on conclusion of the agreement needs to be endorsed by the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament must also give its consent. The COREPER (Committee of member states' Permanent Representatives to the EU) is expected to give its view on extending the agreement on 18 February, before adoption by the negotiating mandate by the Council on 21 or 24 February. (L.C./transl.rt)