Brussels, 08/11/2013 (Agence Europe) - The EU Council of Ministers is due to endorse the new fisheries agreement between the EU and Morocco next week (probably on 15 November). There is, however, one more step still to be taken before it becomes law. That is the vote by the European Parliament, scheduled for December, and this looks as though it could prove difficult given the political problems in Western Sahara. The European Parliament's fisheries committee is to vote on 27 or 28 November on the report by Carmen Fraga Estevez (EPP, Spain), which recommends that the conclusion of the EU-Morocco fisheries protocol be approved.
There was a qualified majority at the Committee of Permanent Representatives of the Council of the European Union (Coreper) on 6 November, in favour of the texts of the EU-Morocco fisheries agreement (see EUROPE 10935) (conclusion of the protocol and fishing possibilities and financial contribution). The texts should be adopted without debate during the Ecofin Council on 15 November.
Member states have resolved two problems: 1) the legal base, it being agreed that reference should be made to Article 43 of the treaty on the fisheries protocol, rather than specifying what comes under Article 43.2 or 43.3; and 2) an adequate delimitation of the Commission mandate for annual joint committees. These joint committees have, little by little, acquired considerable influence (also on the subject of fishing possibilities). According to the agreement, the Commission has a complete mandate for tackling all subjects, and there is a far better framework for preparation procedure (qualified majority on matters that warrant it).
Some countries, like Germany, have issued political statements to express their concern on the Western Sahara dossier, but will approve the texts of the EU-Morocco agreement. Other countries, such as the Netherlands, follow the same reasoning but will abstain. Two countries will vote against: Sweden and Denmark (the latter being opposed to the texts of the protocol while agreeing to a change in the legal base). Poland was not entirely pleased with the fishing possibilities but will vote in favour. The United Kingdom has difficulties with the technical aspects concerning quota allocations. It reserves its final position on fishing opportunities for the Council.
According to the new agreement, fishing categories are the same as those in the earlier protocol and, although the number of fishing vessels falls from 137 to 126 units, fishing possibilities increase by 33%, essentially due to the increase in the industrial pelagic fisheries category, which goes from 60,000 to 80,000 tonnes. Non-respect of any provision by Morocco could entail suspension of the protocol. The EU's annual financial counterpart drops from €36.1 million to €30 million, that is, a reduction of 17%. The most notable aspect is the increase of nearly 200% in the contribution to be made by shipowners. (LC/transl.jl)