The joint committee of Moroccan and Spanish fisheries professionals expressed their strong support for a renewal of the Morocco-EU fisheries deal. “The deal provides for the respect of international law and human rights,” said the Spanish Federation for Fisheries (CEPESCA) in a statement following a meeting of the joint committee. The 2013 deal costs the EU some €40 million annually in terms of access, support to the Moroccan fishery sector, and ship-owners fees. In December 2017, the audit report on the Morocco-EU fisheries accord, commissioned by the European Commission, concluded that the agreement has worked satisfactorily and that 75% of its socio-economic impacts benefit the Moroccan southern regions. The report recommended the renewal of this agreement, which will expire in July 2018 as it stands as an instrument of in-depth cooperation with the North African Kingdom.

Source: The North Africa Journal January 19, 2018 11:15 UTC