Brussels, 11/12/2000 (Agence Europe) - The Nice Summit took into consideration the possibility of a failure in the negotiations presently underway for a new fishing agreement between the EU and Morocco. In the "Presidency's conclusions" (Chapter VI External relations, point B Mediterranean, see EUROPE special edition of 10 December), the Heads of Government expressed their hope that a solution may be found before the end of the year, but added: "if this proves itself not to be possible, the European Council invites the Commission to propose, in accordance with the financial prospects, a specific action programme for the restructuring of the Community fleet, which carried out its fishing activities in the framework of the former agreement and prorogues the present aid system to the inactivity of this fleet".
The Spanish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Pique welcomed, in Nice, this position by the Summit, talking of an "important message" that should provide a little tranquillity to the Spanish fishing sector. According to unofficial sources, the EU's budgetary participation in the conversion of the Spanish fleet (and in part Portuguese) could total between 500 million and one billion euros, over several years. The rumour according to which Spain would have obtained this undertaking from the EU in exchange for the lifting of its reservations over the social aspect of the statute of European company has been denied.
Mr Pique also welcomed the passage in the Nice conclusions relating to the "ultra peripheral regions" (paragraph 53), positive for the Canary Islands.
EUROPE recalls that until now the European Commission (which negotiates for the EU) and Morocco are in disagreement over all the key elements of the new agreement: scope of the effort of European fishermen in Moroccan waters, duration of new agreement, level of financial compensation, etc. A new round of negotiations took place this Tuesday; the Community negotiators wait to know if Morocco will soften its position, following the affirmation by the Summit over the possibility that the EU renounce. The spokesperson for Commissioner Fischler indicated that, on the basis of the present Moroccan position, the agreement is impossible.