On Tuesday 20 January, the Council of the EU adopted without debate a decision authorising the opening of negotiations on a sustainable fisheries partnership agreement and an implementing protocol with Morocco, as was anticipated (see EUROPE 13786/11).
On 7 November, the European Commission adopted a proposal to open negotiations on a new sustainable fisheries partnership agreement with Morocco (see EUROPE 13750/15).
On 4 October 2024, the Court of Justice of the EU had rejected the appeals lodged by the Commission and the Council against the annulment of the EU-Morocco agreements on trade in agricultural products and fisheries. At issue: the lack of consent of the people of Western Sahara to these agreements, a people represented by the Polisario Front (see EUROPE 13497/12).
The last fisheries protocol between the EU and Morocco expired in 2023.
The Council of the EU also adopted without debate a decision authorising the opening of negotiations on a new protocol implementing the partnership agreement on sustainable fisheries between the EU and Mauritania. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)