Recommendation for a Council Decision authorising the Commission to open negotiations for the conclusion of a Protocol implementing the Fisheries Partnership Agreement with Morocco

Author (Corporate)
Series Title
Series Details (2018) 1 final
Publication Date 08/01/2018
Content Type

Background and further information:

Morocco's fishing zones, located close to the EU and rich in fish resources, form an essential fishing ground for both traditional, small-scale fisheries from Spain and Portugal and industrial fleets from more distant Member States. These fishing zones include waters both under Morocco's sovereignty and jurisdiction, i.e. also waters off Western Sahara, where Morocco exercises de facto administration.

The current FPA between the European Union and the Kingdom of Morocco entered into force on 28 February 2007. This agreement was implemented by two successive Protocols enabling Union vessels targeting pelagic and demersal species to access the fishing zone of Morocco until 14 December 2011, which marks the termination date of the second implementing Protocol, as a result of the non consent by the European Parliament to its conclusion. The EP questioned the sustainability, value-for-money and international legality of the proposed instrument. A third Protocol, which took into account the EP's concerns, was concluded in 2014 and will expire on 14 July 2018.

The European Commission proposes to negotiate a new Protocol implementing the Fisheries Partnership Agreement (FPA) with the Kingdom of Morocco that meets the needs of the Union fleet.

Source Link Link to Main Source http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=COM:2018:001:FIN
Related Links
ESO: EU-Morocco Fisheries Partnership Agreement to enter into force http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-eu-morocco-fisheries-partnership-agreement-to-enter-into-force/
EUR-Lex: SWD(2018)1: Evaluation http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=SWD:2018:001:FIN
EUR-Lex: SWD(2018)2: Executive summary of the evaluation http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=SWD:2018:002:FIN

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