Brussels, 11/06/2013 (Agence Europe) - Negotiations between Morocco and the EU on a new fisheries agreement are well on track, the EU ambassador in Rabat, Rupert Joy, said last week during a meeting on trading relations between the European Union and Morocco, organised in Casablanca by EuroCham Maroc, the union of European chambers of commerce and industry in Morocco.
This optimistic outlook, reported by the local media, is shared by the Moroccan minister for agriculture and maritime fisheries, Aziz Akhannouch, who, according to the same source, appeared reassuring. Addressing the Moroccan parliament at the beginning of last week, he had spoken of major progress made in the twin-strand talks, one technical (catch potential) and the other economic - on the opportunities for the Moroccan fishing sector.
Addressing EuroCham, the European ambassador added to these announcements on fishing that the two parties are, moreover, determined to move towards the conclusion of a deep and comprehensive free trade agreement (DCFTA) in order to attain closer economic integration. Joy noted that bilateral trade has more than doubled during the last decade thanks to the implementation of several agreements (industrial free-trade agreement, bilateral agricultural agreement, the agreement on trade disputes and the launch of fishing negotiations). (FB/transl.jl)