Spain is calling for the European Union and Morocco to reach an agreement.

By Naoufel Cherkaoui for Magharebia in Rabat

[AFP/Cristina Quicler] European trawlers are now banned from Moroccan waters following a collapsed fishing deal.

The European Union’s decision last week to terminate a fishing agreement with Morocco is straining ties between the two sides, but could offer an opportunity to local fishermen.

The crisis erupted when the European Parliament on December 14th voted not to extend the fishing agreement over economic and environmental concerns, as well as allegations that Western Sahara residents did not benefit from EU payments. The decision deals a severe economic blow to Spain, whose vessels were among the foremost beneficiaries.

But recent statements by Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy have softened the harshness of the dispute. On December 20th, he said his government “will do everything possible to revive the fishing agreement with Morocco, which is considered very important for Spain”.

“The decision not to extend the agreement should not be regarded as hostile to the interests of our partners, but an awakening of conscience on the seriousness of a critical issue,” said European Parliament Representative Karl Haglund, who prepared a report calling for his fellow legislators to vote against the agreement.

Haglund stressed that the “extension of the agreement’s current annual protocol is unacceptable due to the lack of cost-profit equality given the over-exploitation of marine wealth, as well as the limited European aid in development of local policies in the field of marine fishing.”

However, Moroccan Fisheries Minister Aziz Akhannouch said the move would have “very negative consequences for the relationship between the EU and Morocco”.

Akhannouch explained that the decision is an opportunity for domestic fishermen. “We have our own means of development of this sector, and Morocco will continue to work for sustainable development of this sector through the support and implementation of the marine fishing plans. And we have enough professionals who want to fish and to take advantage of this wealth and to develop it for the benefit of their country,” the minister said.

Moroccan foreign ministry issued a statement affirming that termination of the agreement could mean a comprehensive reassessment of European-Moroccan relations and other issues being negotiated at the present time, such as trade in services and the movement of persons.

Spanish Fishing Minister Roa Aguilar said in a press statement that the EU must return to negotiations with Morocco in order to reach a fishing agreement on new premises, as the agreement is vital for the stability of the Spanish fishing sector and European-Moroccan relations.

Spain described the non-renewal of the agreement as a grievous error, estimating losses at 30 million euros. The Spanish fishing minister has requested EU compensation for damage sustained by his country’s fishing fleet.

The EU move was based on two factors, according to Manar Sellimi, a political science professor at the University of Mohammed V in Rabat. The first, he said, is that Europeans consider Morocco the main beneficiary of co-operation while the second is that European finances are under strain from the economic crisis.
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