Strasbourg, France, Feb 12, 2019 (AFP) – The European Parliament on Tuesday adopted a new fishing agreement with Morocco that covers the adjacent waters of the disputed Western Sahara, angering the Algerian-backed Polisario Frontindependence movement. The authors of the agreement, which replaces one that expired last July, stressed its terms will not undermine efforts to settle the long-running conflict between Morocco and the Western Sahara. “A new agreement on the legal, environmental, economic and social governance of EU vessels’ fishing activities in Morocco and Western Sahara waters was approved on Tuesday,” the European Parliament said. With 415 votes in favour, 189 against and 49 abstentions, the deal was adopted by the European Parliament, one of the final hurdles in the 28-nation European Union. Before it was approved the parliament rejected a request to refer the agreement back to the European Court of Justice to see if it complies with EU treaties.

Source: The North Africa Journal February 12, 2019 18:22 UTC