EU reaffirms ‘utmost importance’ of fisheries partnership with Morocco, ‘essential interest’ in its continuation

The European Union (EU) has reaffirmed the “utmost importance” it attaches to its fisheries partnership with Morocco and the “essential interest” it has in its continuation, in a “spirit of trust, solidarity and mutual interest.”

Relations with Morocco in the field of fisheries “are part of a global and mutually beneficial partnership, which makes Morocco and the EU strategic partners for stability, development and prosperity in the region,” said a joint statement issued at the end of the 5th session of the Joint Commission responsible for monitoring the Partnership Agreement in the field of sustainable fisheries, held Thursday in Brussels.

This 5th session, held in accordance with the Partnership Agreement for Sustainable Fisheries between Morocco and the European Union, provided an opportunity to make an overall assessment of the four years of implementation of the Fisheries Protocol of July 18, 2019, which expires on July 17, in accordance with its Article 16.

Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita said at a press conference in Rabat on Wednesday that the Kingdom will decide on the future of cooperation with the EU in the fisheries sector in light of the government’s own assessments and in consultation with European partners.

Bourita also described the implementation of the protocol as “satisfactory”, noting that cooperation over the past four years has been “positive and mutually beneficial.”