The EP’s approval is the next step to validate the agreement. (Photo: EP)
EUROPEAN UNION
All the countries of the European Union (EU) formally approved to authorize the Commissioner for Fisheries, Maria Damanaki, to resume contacts with Morocco to sign a new fishing agreement, to replace the vetoed by the European Parliament (EP) on 14 December, 2011.
The decision of the 27 Member States does not expressly mention the Western Sahara, reference to which the governments of Spain and France opposed.
Now, the Parliament approval is needed for it to be valid.
According to European sources consulted by Europa Press agency, the measure provides a “geographical description” of the regions covered by the agreement and that should benefit from the advantages it offers.
Specifically, the text mentions ‘south 27° 40’N’ and Morocco requires guarantees of “full compliance with its obligations in line with international law”, they added.
On this occasion, Sweden, Finland, United Kingdom and the Netherlands voted against the document because they argued that there is no express reference to Western Sahara.
Damanaki expects Brussels will fulfil the remainder of the process “as expeditiously as possible” to sign a new fisheries agreement.
However, the Commissioner is aware that “without the vote of Parliament the mandate is not valid,” consulted sources added.
The population of Western Sahara denounces the overexploitation of its resources and claims to be excluded from any agreement with Morocco.
For its part, Brussels bids to catch only the “surplus” credited by scientific reports on the fishing grounds managed by Rabat, and to review the financial consideration for these catches and “adjust” it to what is actually fished.
Related articles:
– Basque Parliament asks to exclude Sahara from agreement with Morocco
– EP rejects extension of fisheries agreement with Morocco
By Analia Murias
editorialwww.fis.com
