Brussels, 11/10/2014 (Agence Europe) - “The latest proposal (on the text of the EU-Morocco fisheries agreement) substantially addresses the criticisms” levelled by the European Parliament (in December 2011) which led to rejection of the text then on the table, according to Cristian Dan Preda (EPP, Romania), rapporteur for the opinion of the Parliament's development committee. The fisheries committee is the rapporteur (see EUROPE 10935) and the plenary session vote is scheduled to take place in the December sitting (9 December 2013 if the timetable is confirmed).
Preda has just submitted a favourable opinion to the members of his committee ahead of a development committee debate in Brussels next week, before the fisheries committee debate, probably in November. He delivers an analysis of the text after weighing up the advantages and disadvantages, both technical and financial. The objections raised by Parliament in December 2011 seem to him to have been resolved in the new text, which “addresses Parliament's concerns over human rights”. He draws attention to the inclusion of clear guarantees should Morocco fail to honour its commitments. The new draft, he says, makes provision for a suspension mechanism, and allows suspension of the agreement in the event of human rights violations or breaches of democratic principles.
Preda underlines the importance of this agreement and the concept of partnership that it brings with it. “Because of its economic importance, this is the second biggest fisheries agreement ever concluded by the EU with a developing country, after the fisheries agreement with Mauritania, representing a quarter of the budget allocation” the Commission has for fisheries. He also stresses the importance of relations with Morocco, which has signed an association agreement and which, since 2008, has been engaged in an “advanced status” procedure. He recommended that this procedure be encouraged.
Ahead of the European Parliament debates, the Spanish lower Chamber (Congreso de los Diputados) has passed a resolution calling on the European Parliament not to reject for a second time this agreement of vital importance to the Iberian fleets which have been tied up in port since the end of 2011. This initiative was supported by the PP, the PSOE and the CiU. The Left-wing coalition felt that the proposed agreement still does not satisfy the demands of the Sahrawi people. (FB/transl.fl)