Morocco, EU Review First Year of New Fisheries Agreement

Brussels – Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Rural Development, Water and Forests, Aziz Akhannouch and the European Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, Virginijus Sinkevičius, held talks via videoconference on Wednesday to review the first year of the new fisheries agreement between Morocco and the European Union (EU).

On this occasion, Akhannouch welcomed the positive outcome of the first year of the new EU-Morocco fisheries agreement, despite the major constraints imposed by the Covid-19 health crisis.

In that regard, the minister recalled that this agreement has enabled both parties to consolidate their cooperation in the fisheries sector, within the framework of solid cooperation of over 32 years.

Also taking part in this meeting, Morocco’s Ambassador to the EU, Ahmed Rahhou stressed that the fisheries agreement strengthens the multidimensional strategic partnership between Morocco and its European partner.

The talks, the first between Akhannouch and the new European Commissioner, were an opportunity to review the progress of technical discussions between the two parties on the assessment of the first year of the agreement and to set a date for the next meeting of the Joint Committee of the second year of the agreement, to be held in the week of December 7.

The current Morocco-EU fisheries agreement was concluded in January 2019 for a period of 4 years. It sets the access conditions for the European fleet and provides for the requirements of sustainable fishing.