In the wake of the ambiguous verdict of the European Court of Justice on the validity of the Morocco-EU fisheries agreement, several Moroccan ministers and officials made it clear that respect for the Kingdom’s territorial integrity is a sine qua non for any future international agreement. The EU’s decision making branch, the European Council and its executive arm, the European Commission, have given their green light for the negotiation of a new fisheries agreement after the termination of the current deal next July. Fisheries professionals in the EU, notably in Spain, are the largest beneficiaries of the fisheries agreement, which generates about €350 million in direct and indirect economic activity. The ECJ ruling on the agreement has abstained from following the view of its outgoing adviser Melchior Wathelet who declared the deal invalid because it covers the Sahara. Legal experts have warned against the ECJ’s meddling in international agreements signed by the EU at the international level, as opening the door to pro-separatist lobbyist to challenge the legality of EU agreements with sovereign states would embolden other separatist groups, particularly in Europe, to follow suit.

Source: The North Africa Journal March 04, 2018 12:33 UTC