Cepesca secretary general Javier Garat is pleased with Rajoy’s visit to Morocco. (Photo: IISD/Stock File/FIS)
FIS
The Spanish Fisheries Confederation (Cepesca) released the conclusions reached by the Hispano-Moroccan joint committee of the Fisheries sector after the Fisheries Partnership Agreement breakdown between the European Union (EU) and Morocco.
“We regret the agreement breakup for political reasons, when there should have been discussed only technical issues”, Cepesca said in a press release.
It claimed that those responsible for the break are the European Commission (EC) and the members of the European Parliament (EP), who voted against it.
“We declare our solidarity with the Spanish and Moroccan fishermen affected, who have lost their jobs”; and “We remain on the sidelines of problems and political debates. We will work purely on fishing issues”, the Confederation added.
Likewise, Cepesca thanked Carmen Fraga, president of the Fisheries Commission of the European Parliament, for all the support and assistance offered to the Joint Committee in defence of an agreement benefiting to all parties.
The entity also was pleased by the visit of Spanish Prime Minister, Mariano Rajoy, to Morocco. That trip will be the first one Rajoy makes abroad, EFE agency informed.
For Cepesca secretary general, Javier Garat, it is “a much needed visit”, in which the fishing pact will “surely” be discussed.
“The visit is most welcome, as the more political driving force the issue has, the more likely it is to go ahead”, said Garat.
On Tuesday, the head of the Ministry of Environment, Rural and Marine Affairs (MARM), Miguel Arias Cañete, met in Brussels with the Commissioner of Fisheries of the European Union (EU), Maria Damanaki, to request the adoption of several negotiating directives for a new fishing agreement with Morocco.
For its part, the Danish Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Mette Gjerskov, said the bilateral agreement is “high politics, it is not only about ecological concerns and management of resources.”
When negotiations are resumed, “the discussion will be, of course, on the western Sahara and what to do” about it, the minister continued to say.
“I think many countries will have to study the efficiency of their fleets. The reduction is not an end in itself, but you need to have sustainable resource exploitation”, said Gjerskov.
Garat stressed that the ban on fishing in Moroccan waters is affecting some 64 Spanish vessels, “which remain moored” for over a month.
Related article:
– Spain calls for new fisheries agreement between the EU and Morocco
By Analia Murias
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