Brussels, 13/07/2011 (Agence Europe) - A decision extending the fisheries agreement between the EU and Morocco by one year (see EUROPE 10411 for the Coreper agreement) was passed by the EU Council of Ministers by qualified majority on Tuesday 12 July. Denmark, Sweden and the Netherlands opposed the decision. Four countries (the UK, Austria, Cyprus and Finland) abstained. The new protocol was signed by the parties on Wednesday 13 July.
The extension of current arrangements will allow time for a new fisheries partnership agreement to be negotiated by the parties. The four-year protocol on fishing opportunities and the financial compensation expired on 27 February 2011. The new protocol, initialled on 25 February 2011, covers the period from 28 February 2011 to 27 February 2012. Fishing opportunities (for 119 vessels) and the financial compensation (€36.1 million) remain unchanged.
Some member states felt that the question had to be asked whether the agreement had brought any benefit to the local people of the Western Sahara. The Moroccan authorities sent the relevant information to the Commission in December 2010, establishing that the people of the region had, indeed, been benefitting. A specific provision has been inserted in the new protocol which will require Morocco to submit, before the protocol expires, a report on the planning of the sectoral support provided for in the protocol, including, in particular, its anticipated economic and social impact and its geographical distribution. (L.C./transl.rt)