Brussels – Spanish government will support negotiations between Morocco and the European Union (EU) for the conclusion of a fisheries agreement “as soon as possible,” said on Tuesday Spanish Minister of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Miguel Arias Canete.
“Spain will support the process of negotiations between Morocco and the Union to conclude a fishing agreement so that it is done quickly. And soon there is a mandate for negotiations, that we hope in January, bilateral negotiations between Morocco and the European Commission will be possible,” said the Spanish minister told MAP news agency following a meeting in Brussels with European Commissioner for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs Maria Damanaki.
He, in this regard, stressed the importance of this agreement for Spain which will do everything to achieve it, noting that he stressed to Damanaki the need to “initiate negotiations as soon as possible,” and convey to the European official to “Spain’s will to have the best relations with Morocco and find balanced agreements on fisheries.”
He also said he had discussed with the EU Commissioner the financial compensation in favour of “the Spanish fleet which had to stop its activities, not because of Morocco’s decision, but because of political conflict within the European Parliament.”
Canete said he was optimistic regarding the negotiations between Morocco and the European Union on fisheries, adding that he told the Commissioner that “it is not a small fishing agreement and that Spain wants to maintain the best relations with Morocco.”
He stressed the importance of having a “strong” European and Mediterranean policy with Morocco, saying that Spain will support this agreement, and the Kingdom in its bilateral relations with the European Union.
Last modified : 10 January 2012
