Brussels proposes amendment to fisheries agreement with Morocco that includes Sahara

The European Commission adopted on Wednesday a proposal for a Council decision to authorise it to negotiate with Morocco an amendment to the current Fisheries Partnership Agreement and a renewed protocol that include the Sahara.

«The objective is to preserve and further develop the fisheries partnership between the EU and Morocco, by concluding an agreement and protocol that are environmentally sustainable, economically profitable and fully in line with international and EU law,» the European Commission said in a release.

«Morocco is a close partner of the EU that benefits from the 'advanced status' in the context of Union's neighbourhood policy and the EU - Morocco Association Agreement,» it added, noting that the proposed amended agreement and the renewed protocol would help strengthen monitoring, control and surveillance and contribute to improved governance of the fisheries in the region.

«They will also be beneficial for Morocco, in particular in view of the importance of the financial contribution to be paid under the Protocol as a contribution to the Moroccan "Halieutis" strategy of development of the fisheries sector, while EU operators, including artisanal vessels from several Member States, are expected to benefit from the fishing opportunities made available through the amended agreement and the renewed protocol,» the source said.