On Friday 20 April, Morocco and the European Union began a first series of talks with a view to finding common ground regarding renewal of their fisheries agreement (see EUROPE 12002, 11986). Discussion may continue until 24 April, sources say.
The current protocol is due to expire on 14 July this year. The Court of Justice of the European Union said, in a ruling on 27 February, that the fisheries partnership agreement sealed between the EU and Morocco in 2006 is in line with EU law as it is not applicable to Western Sahara or to adjacent waters (see EUROPE 11970). This would require renegotiation of the agreement.
The talks will unfold in the Moroccan capital and, on the Moroccan side, will involve the Moroccan minister for foreign affairs, Nasser Bourita, and the minister for agriculture and fisheries, Aziz Akhannouch. On the European side, the EU’s ambassador to Morocco, Claudia Wiedey, and the head of unit for maritime affairs and fisheries at the European Commission, Christian Rambaud, will be among the main negotiators.
The Polisario Front, which is fighting for the independence of Western Sahara, has called on the EU to “respect the Court of Justice’s decision and not to include Western Sahara in this agreement”. The European Commission takes the view that it is possible to extend bilateral agreements with Morocco to Western Sahara subject to certain conditions.
“The EU is determined to negotiate all necessary instruments while fully complying with the Court’s ruling”, a source said.
In a statement, Claudia Wiedey points out that the EU will continue to support the maritime fisheries sector via Morocco’s “Halieutis” programme for which the EU has contributed over €120 million since it was launched. According to Wiedey, renewal of the agreement will make it possible to: - continue and strengthen cooperation in the important fisheries sector; - and modernise current instruments for better governance of the fisheries sector in the region. On the European side, the challenge faced is that of giving EU operators, including the non-industrial fishermen of several member states, the right to benefit from the fishing possibilities provided by the amended agreement and the renewed protocol.
The protocol in place, which covers the period 2014-2018, is coming to an end. It authorises 126 European vessels (from 11 member states, including Spanish vessels) to fish in Moroccan waters. In exchange, the EU makes an annual payment of €30 million, including €14 million to support development of the Moroccan fisheries sector. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)