Brussels, 27/03/2001 (Agence Europe) - In opposition to the view of the European Fisheries Minister, Franz Fischler (whom he met in Brussels on Monday morning - see yesterday's EUROPE, page 8), the Moroccan Fisheries Minister, Said Chbaatou, said that the negotiations between the EU and Morocco on a new fisheries agreement had not broken down. He explained at a press conference that he had no intention of accepting responsibility for failure, asserting that his country was prepared to find a way out of the current deadlock and "pursue negotiations and would sign an agreement immediately as long as it was equitable" (making an oblique reference to the financial compensation which has been the sticking point in the negotiating process, that started in October 2000 and was intensified at the beginning of 2001).
Morocco "does not want a fixed package", but financial compensation proportionate to the EU's fishing activities. The Minister thinks the oft quoted figure of EUR 100 million is too small since it would be the equivalent of 1 French franc per kilo of fish, which is seven times lower than the market price. He explained that each extra volume of fish should be matched by appropriate compensation which would mean that cutting the catch by 62% compared with the previous agreement (1995-1999) would mean providing EUR 78 million less a year over three years. Morocco is simply requesting that the EU agree to pay a price matching the "social and economic cost" to Morocco, added Mr Chbaatou. He stressed that Morocco's fishing industry was already being hit by investment being frozen and catch quotas, insisting that Morocco had no desire to "discriminate" against Community fishermen in the context of dwindling resources. For this reason, he explained, any new agreement must meet two priorities - conserving fishing resources and helping the Moroccan fishing industry to develop
Despite the "sacrifices" being demanded, Mr Chbaatou asserted that the Moroccan government had taken a responsible attitude in the face of opposition from public opinion and the fishing industry in order to promote "good relations with the EU and neighbouring countries and friends" (Spain). He called on Mr Fischler to match Morocco's concessions, regretting that the European Commission had followed the "logic of previous agreements". Mr Chbaatou travelled to Stockholm on Tuesday to discuss the issue with the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the European Union.