Minister Miguel Arias Cañete and EU FIsheries Commissioner Maria Damanaki. (Photo: EC)
EUROPEAN UNION
The Minister of Agriculture, Food and Environment(Magrama), Miguel Arias Cañete, reiterated the Commissioner of Fisheries of the European Union (EU), Maria Damanaki, to “quickly” negotiate a new fisheries protocol with Morocco for the Spanish fleet to return to the African fishing ground to capture fish.
This inquiry stems from the inability to extend the economic aid to the Spanish fishermen fishing in Moroccan waters. This sector was forced to completely stop their activities when the European Parliament (EP) decided not to extend the previous protocol in December 2011.
The latest fisheries agreement between the EU and Morocco granted permits to 119 European vessels.
“The cessation aids have a period of six months, which is renewable for another six months, and there’s no [further] possibility of extension,” explained Arias Cañete, according to Europa Pressagency.
In addition, the Spanish minister considered it “disconcerting” that the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries of Andalusia, Luis Planas, “is unaware” of the fact that EU regulations do not allow a further extension.
“If there was an extension, the government would immediately be considering it and settling it, as it happened once,” he stressed.
Arias Cañete requested Damanaki that the decision making “does not defer from one round to another one” because while that happens, the fleet remains stopped.
The minister considers “the positions are really close.” Thanks to “the Spanish fishing sector, along with the Moroccan fishing industry, this has contributed to a great closeness as to the technical issues,” where “there are no major discrepancies,”EFE agency reports.
For Arias Cañete, “all the elements for settling the deal on the table” at this time. “And what’s on the table is far more acceptable than what Mauritania offered the EU,” he pointed out.
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– Without Morocco, Barbate fishermen undergo ‘disastrous’ situation
– Ship owners reject fishing pact with EU
By Analia Murias
editorial@fis.com
www.fis.com
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