The Council of European Union has approved the opening of negotiations with Morocco on a new fisheries partnership agreement. An independent European evaluation study underlines the positive impact of the current protocol in terms of sustainable fishing and its socioeconomic contributions in both the EU and in Morocco. About 120 vessels from 11 EU countries (Spain, Portugal, Italy, France, Germany, Lithuania, Latvia, The Netherlands, Ireland, Poland and United Kingdom) are operating in Morocco’s waters. Both the EU and Morocco benefit from the fisheries agreement, the independent evaluation study says. Similarly, the gains of the 11 EU countries operating in Moroccan waters largely exceed the €30m the EU invests for the support of Moroccan sectoral fisheries policy.

Source: The North Africa Journal February 19, 2018 17:26 UTC