The European Commission said on Thursday 18 March that despite the constraints linked to the health crisis, it hopes to rapidly and successfully conclude negotiations on a new fisheries agreement between the EU and Mauritania.
There will be no third extension, the Commission representative told the European Parliament Committee on Fisheries.
“We must conclude this”, said the Commission, as the 7th round of EU/Mauritania negotiations on fisheries currently takes place (18-19 March) in Las Palmas, in Gran Canaria.
Mauritania is sticking to its guns. The current agreement with Mauritania is due to expire in mid-November and the European Commission is doing its utmost to avoid disrupting fisheries activities in these waters, thereby hoping to conclude negotiations by the end of spring. “We are facing difficulties, however, because of the low level that fisheries options are being used under the current protocol – only 50%”.
“The agreement needs to be rebalanced to ensure European added value”, the Commission said. Nevertheless, Mauritania is not accepting any reduction in the EU’s contribution and is sticking to its guns. “We cannot continue to pay for ‘fish on paper’”, said the Commission in summary. The latter envisages an increase in the contribution of EU shipowners so that they can fish in Mauritania waters. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)