DR ‹ › The ambassadors of the European Union member states, known as COREPER, have given the green light for the European Commission to kick off negotiations with Morocco on a new fishing protocol. This decision, made on Wednesday, January 14, in Brussels, was part of the agenda for the meeting of the permanent representatives of the EU's 27 member states. The EU countries have tasked the European executive with negotiating a Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement (SFPA). This agreement aims to lay down the general framework for cooperation and establish an implementation protocol that will ensure European vessels can access Moroccan waters, as reported by a European media outlet. This mandate aligns with the expectations of Europêche, the organization representing European fishermen. The group has stressed the necessity of a new agreement, highlighting that it is crucial «at a time when fishing alternatives are becoming scarce, whether due to reduced access to European waters or unsustainable fishing practices by third countries». Meanwhile, Russia is already ahead of the European Union in these waters, and the United Kingdom might soon join the Russian fleet operating in Moroccan waters. COREPER's approval follows an announcement made on November 11 by the European Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, Costas Kadis, who stated before the Spanish Parliament the intention to resume talks with Rabat. It's important to note that the previous fishing protocol between the EU and Morocco expired on July 19, 2023. Before this expiry, over 90% of the European Union's catches were made in the waters off Western Sahara, according to an EU report, as specified by the same European media outlet.
