Press Release: Commission puts forward euro 197 million aid package to convert the Spanish and Portuguese fleets which used to fish Moroccan waters

The European Commission proposed on 18 July 2001 to allocate up to €197 million of additional EU aid for a programme for the conversion of the vessels and the crews whose activities had to cease because of the non-renewal of the Fisheries Agreement with Morocco. The package which constitutes funding additional to the Financial Instrument for Fisheries offers financial support for the permanent decommissioning of vessels, for their conversion to other fishing activities as well as for the retraining or early retirement of the fishermen unable to find alternative employment.