Morocco-EU fisheries agreement : Negotiations relaunched waiting for the CJEU’s verdict

On Monday, the EU Council of Ministers for Agriculture and Fisheries has authorized the European Commission to relaunch negotiations with Morocco with the objective of renewing the 2014 fisheries agreement, which will expire on the 14th of July.

Yesterday’s decision comes at a time when the European Court of Justice is expected to pronounce its decision on the 27th of February. Its ruling can either stop the famous agreement or renew it.

For the record, Advocate General Melchior Wathelet, a top legal advisor, said on Wednesday, 10th of January, as an opinion for the Court that the European Union’s fisheries agreement with Morocco «is invalid». Wathelet justified his statement arguing that the agreement «does not respect the rights of people in the disputed Western Sahara region».

European sources contacted by the Europa Press agency said they are «aware» of the situation. They added stressing that Brussels «can at any time change the pace of these negotiations according to the court’s final decision».