Joe Borg, European Commissioner for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs has welcomed the initialling of a fisheries partnership agreement between the European Union and Morocco. This agreement, which will be in place for a period of 4 years, marks the renewal of the fisheries relations between the two sides after the previous agreement came to an end in November 1999.
This new agreement is more modest than its predecessor and reflects the changes that have taken place in the interim period. It will provide fishing possibilities for 119 EU vessels and an annual quota of 60,000 tonnes of small pelagic species. The financial compensation from the European Union to Morocco will amount to € 144 million for the whole period.
A substantial part of this amount will be earmarked for measures specifically designed to help Morocco’s small-scale fleet and to support the development of sustainable fishing activities in Morocco’s waters. This agreement should become applicable from 1 March 2006, once it has passed through the Council and the European Parliament.
Commenting on this agreement, Commissioner Borg said: “This is a significant and positive development which will strengthen the relationship between the European Union and Morocco. The two Parties are determined to work closely towards achieving sustainable fisheries and to help foster a favourable climate for co-operation in all aspects of the fisheries and fisheries-related sector.”
