Brussels, 05/06/2014 (Agence Europe) - Morocco has noted with satisfaction the increase of its sales in Europe of fisheries products, with the activities of the Spanish fleet suspended since 2011, as the EU-Morocco fisheries agreement has not been able to enter into force pending its ratification.
“Exports of frozen Moroccan sardines onto the Spanish market in the year 2013 exploded”, according to figures gathered by the media of the Kingdom. These quote the Department of Fisheries, which states that in the first nine months of 2013, there was “an increase of just 66% of the total volume of these exports”, but “no data were supplied on the distribution between the countries of destination”. Statistics from the Spanish Ministry of External Trade were also quoted by these media: “Morocco exported 5,408 tonnes of frozen sardines to Spain, compared to just 2,295 tonnes the previous year, an increase of 135%”, it is reported.
In view of this observation, the Spanish continue to lament Morocco's delay in ratifying the agreement, which is conditional on the signature of King Mohamed VI, and they hope that the new Spanish monarch, who is believed to have good relations with the royal family of Rabat, will ease the issue.
However, the subject is complicated further by the continuing differences of opinion between Europe and Morocco over the access regime for fruit and vegetables. The Moroccans take the view that the customs measures adopted by the EU in April of this year penalise their sales on the Community market, particularly for tomatoes.
Additionally, health alerts in May blocked sales of cherry tomatoes to France and the Czech Republic, with the flow of Moroccan exports on the increase at the time, giving rise to strongly-expressed protests from Morocco. “On 18 May of this year, the volume of exports (of tomatoes) reached 92.5% of the quota laid down by Brussels for Morocco (Ed: in the framework of the agricultural agreement which has been in force for nearly two years), or 248,803 tonnes of tomatoes of all varieties, at an average price of €0.483 (5.42 DH) per kilogram”, state the Moroccan media, quoting official sources (our translation). “Despite this performance, Moroccan exports to the EU fell by 5% in volume and 15% in value compared to the same period of the year ended”.
The Moroccans “hope that Brussels understood their message 'fish in exchange for vegetables and fruit', otherwise…”, with the ellipsis giving some idea of the response. (FB)