The European Parliament adopted this Tuesday (Feb.12) by an overwhelming majority the Morocco-EU Fisheries Agreement.
The accord and its protocol were adopted at a plenary session in Strasbourg by 415 votes in favor, 189 against and 49 abstentions.
This vote, the last endorsement step at the European level, is the culmination of a process of technical negotiations, legal validations and political consultations between Morocco and the EU characterized by serenity, trust and responsibility, in order to preserve the fundamental principles of the Kingdom’s territorial integrity and economic interests as well as the multidimensional historical partnership between the two parties.
The accord needs to be adopted by the Moroccan Parliament before it enters into force and allows thus vessels from 11 EU countries (Spain, Portugal, Italy, France, Germany, Lithuania, Latvia, The Netherlands, Ireland, Poland and United Kingdom) to resume their fishing activities in Morocco’s waters.
Following the vote, Morocco expressed, in a statement, its appreciation for “the collective action of the European institutions and EU member states,” and commended “their continued commitment to the strategic partnership with the Kingdom of Morocco.”
The adoption of the agreement is a clear response to the maneuvers and attempts to disrupt the longstanding partnership with Morocco. It also responds to those who were doubting the inclusion of the Moroccan Sahara in the agreement, as the text clearly specifies that the fishing zone extends from Cape Spartel in northern Morocco to Cape Blanc in the south of the Kingdom.
work of the exercise of its sovereignty, to negotiate and sign agreements including the Moroccan Sahara,” said the Moroccan Foreign Ministry in the statement released Tuesday.
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