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During a talk show broadcast on the 2nd national TV station on Sunday, Minister of Agriculture, Sea Fishery, Rural Development, Water Bodies & Forests Aziz Akhannouch said, commenting on the Court of Justice of the European Union’s ruling on the fisheries agreement concluded between Rabat and Brussels in 2014, that «the Attorney-General’s statement is dangerous». The Minister denounced Melchior Wathelet’s opinion adding that «he is not qualified to comment on the issue managed currently by the United Nations».
He said that the CJEU did not adopt the Attorney’s statement and «ruled that the agreement was valid», adding that it is not applicable to the Southern regions of the country.
For the record, the Court of Justice of the European Union, announced on the 27th of February in a communiqué its decision regarding the fisheries agreement concluded between the EU and Morocco. According to the court, the agreement is «valid in so far as it is not applicable to Western Sahara and to its adjacent waters».
Ready to abandon the agreement
Regarding the scenarios presented to Morocco following the CJEU’s decision, Akhannouch said that the ruling is identical to the one issued on the 21st of December 2016 and which concerns the agricultural agreement concluded with the EU. The Minister stressed that the court’s argument focused on the «southern regions of the Kingdom, and the impact the agreement might have on the population in the area covered».
«The court did not consult the population, but if it is necessary to do that… we don’t mind it. These agreements are all in the interest of citizens living in the southern regions only if we manage to reach a solution that respects Moroccan sovereignty».
Meanwhile, Akhannouch added that «we are capable of abandoning the agreement if it doesn’t respect Moroccan sovereignty. The agreement is in favor of the European Union because they fish an estimated amount of 40 to 50 million dollars and which benefit state investments. We are not in the need of 40 or 50 million Dollars».
«There is another important agreement (agricultural treaty) which accounts for 35 billion dollars and it is more interesting for the European Union… They must know what is interesting to them and they must acknowledge the important role Morocco plays internationally in the field of migration and security. We are ready to operate in good faith, but there is a red line that shouldn’t be crossed and which is the country’s sovereignty».
Akhannouch added that «everything is possible» and that negotiations are carried out to find a solution with the European Union.
«The EU is a very important strategic partner for Morocco, and Morocco is equally important for them,» he concluded.
