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Rabat – Spain’s Minister of Interior Fernando Grande- Marlaska expressed today his country’s support for the renewal of the EU-Morocco fisheries deal, stressing the importance of the agreement for EU fishing vessels and the essential nature of the multidimensional, strategic cooperation between Rabat and Brussels.
The validity of the fisheries agreement between the EU and Morocco is expiring today, July 17, with concerns about a perceived stagnation in renewal negotiations.
In his today’s comments, Grande-Marlaska stressed that he is confident that the agreement will be renewed soon.
The Spanish official also emphasized that the protocol for the renewal of the agreement with Morocco is “advanced since both the [European] Commission and Spain are working resolutely.”
He further reassured fishing vessel owners that Spain, through its Agriculture Ministry, has prepared the necessary aid for the sector as well as vessels that have been active in Moroccan waters.
The remarks come to echo Spain’s continued support for the EU-Morocco agricultural agreement renewal.
On Friday last week, Spain’s Minister of Agriculture Luis Planas Puchades emphasized Spain’s position on the fisheries agreement, stressing the need for Morocco and the EU to continue to work on research and technical aspects to facilitate progress towards the conclusion of a new protocol.
The remarks came amid Plisario’s maneuverings to secure an alternative deal with the EU under the new fisheries agreement.
Read also: Spain Calls for Renewal of EU-Morocco Fisheries Agreement
Spain had dismissed Polisario’s alternative fishing deal offer earlier this month, with the Spanish Agriculture Minister insisting that she“does not give importance to [Polisario] offer” while stressing that any agreement for fishing off southern Moroccan coasts should be negotiated between Morocco and the EU.
More recently, there have been reports of intense, fruitful discussions in recent days between his Minister Puchades and his Moroccan counterpart, Mohamed Sadiki. According to reports, the two ministers agreed on a wide range of shared interests and jointly pledged to ask the EU commission to continue with Morocco the evaluation of the fisheries agreement so that the renewal negotiations can resume as soon as possible.
On July 12, Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Nasser Bourita stressed that the future of the fisheries sector as part of the EU-Morocco cooperation will be determined through comprehensive assessments in consultation with European partners.
Bourita explained that the Moroccan government is engaged in ongoing discussions that have been considering three key parameters, including Morocco’s vision for the sector development and the preservation of national resources.
