Rabat – The European Commission approved a proposal, opening the path for future and potential negotiations on a new fishing agreement with Morocco.
Spanish news agency EFE reported today that European Commissioner for Fisheries Costas Kadis announced the news on Tuesday before the Spanish Parliament.
“Kadis reported the submission of a ‘negotiating mandate,’ which must be approved by the governments of the 27 EU member states to start discussions with Rabat on a new deal,” the same source added.
This development is “very important” for ties with Morocco, Kadis added, citing the ECJ’s decision to annul both EU-Morocco trade and fishing agreements last year.
The court adopted a hostile ruling, claiming that the EU Commission “violated the right of self-determination of Western Sahara’s population.” The ruling aligns with the pro-Polisario’s claims over Western Sahara.
Morocco responded to the ruling, emphasizing that it does not consider the verdict as relevant or important for its agricultural or fisheries agreements with the EU.
Morocco also urged the EU to take actions, and not words, to safeguard the partnership between Rabat and Brussels.
The EU’s whole fabric reiterated the importance of bilateral ties as well as partnership with Morocco.
The news on the future talks to renew the EU-Morocco fisheries agreement will send a new blow to Polisario and its supporters amid an already strengthened momentum in the Western Sahara dossier.
The UN Security Council voted on Resolution 2797 on October 31, officially endorsing Morocco’s Autonomy Plan as the genuine political solution to end the dispute, shutting down Algeria and Polisario’s self-determination and referendum dreams.
Earlier in October, Morocco and the EU also signed an agricultural agreement amendment, consolidating Morocco’s position.
The agreement stipulates that agricultural products originating from Morocco’s southern provinces will benefit from the same preferential access conditions to the EU as those from the rest of the country.
The deal introduces technical adjustments designed to facilitate access for Moroccan produce, with an emphasis on consumer information, including labeling regions of production.
As for the fisheries agreement, Kadis has now briefed Spanish officials, including Agriculture Minister Luis Planas, on the new negotiating mandate with Morocco.
“The commissioner confirmed the move to open fishing talks with Rabat,” EFE added.
Planas has been one of the most vocal officials in support of the renewal of EU-Morocco agreements as Spain considers – particularly, the particular fishing deal, the “most diplomatically valuable protocol.”
This agreement allowed vessels from Galicia, Andalusia, and the Canary Islands to operate in Moroccan waters.
