The European Commission adopted on Wednesday a proposal for a Council decision to authorize it to negotiate with Morocco an amendment to the current Fisheries Partnership Agreement and a renewed protocol that includes the Sahara. The EU proposal includes extension of the bilateral agreement with Morocco to the Moroccan Sahara. Morocco is a close partner of the EU that benefits from the ‘advanced status’ in the context of the Union’s neighborhood policy and the EU – Morocco Association Agreement, said the Commission in the release. The Commission believes that the proposed amended agreement and the renewed protocol would help strengthen monitoring, control and surveillance and contribute to improved governance of the fisheries in the region. EU operators, including artisanal vessels, from several Member States are expected to benefit from the fishing opportunities made available through the amended agreement and the renewed protocol, the Commission argued.

Source: The North Africa Journal March 21, 2018 18:22 UTC