Morocco-EU: Akhannouch Upbeat about Farm & Fisheries Agreements Adoption Process

The process towards the adoption of the Morocco-EU farm and fisheries agreements “is moving in the right direction,” said Moroccan Minister of Agriculture and Maritime Fisheries, Aziz Akhannouch, following talks in Brussels Wednesday with EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Phil Hogan.

Akhannouch expressed optimism about the process, which, he said, “moves in the right direction”.

“Both agreements are progressing positively and all indicators are moving towards adoption (in the European Parliament) early next year,” said the minister.
He added that talks with European leaders aim to move forward in the strategic relations of partnership with the European Union.

During the meeting, Hogan, the highest European representative on agricultural issues, expressed support to the European Commission’s position on the Morocco-EU free trade agreement and stressed the importance of sound trade relations with Morocco with regard to agricultural products.

He also emphasized the importance of investment and economic development in the Mediterranean region for the benefit of people on both shores.

For his part, Aziz Akhannouch highlighted the quality of relations between Morocco and the European Union, particularly in the commercial, agricultural and fisheries sectors. He underlined the importance of Morocco-EU exchanges for the development of these sectors in Morocco.

Morocco and the EU initialed the new fisheries agreement In Rabat last July. European fishing trawlers will return to Moroccan waters once the agreement is endorsed by the two sides’ parliaments.

Last February, the two parties initialed a document in Brussels that strengthens their partnership on the basis of the agriculture agreement.