First Independent Mena Newspaper
Morocco has reiterated its firm commitment to security and stability in the Sahel calling for a triangular cooperation (Morocco-EU-Sahel) benefiting the region. Speaking at the International High-Level Conference on Sahel, held Friday in Brussels, Morocco’s foreign minister, Nasser Bourita underscored the priority given to the Sahel in Morocco’s foreign policy as evidenced by the multiple […]
Morocco’s exports to the EU grew by 9.5% in 2017 while its imports increased 7%, Eurostat said. Spain remains Morocco’s first EU customer with 41.4% of its total exports to the EU followed by France (29.6%), Italy (6.7%), the UK (5%) and Germany (4.3%). Spain is also Morocco’s first EU supplier accounting for 35.6%, followed […]
If the European Court of Justice declares the EU-Morocco fisheries deal invalid in its February 27 verdict, surfing on the opinion of its advisor Melchior Wathelet, serious repercussions would ensue putting the EU in “turbulent waters” both at the institutional and foreign policy levels, said Eli Hadzhieva, Founder and Director of Dialogue for Europe. In […]
The Council of European Union has approved the opening of negotiations with Morocco on a new fisheries partnership agreement. The current, 4-year accord sealed with the North African Kingdom, will expire on 14 July 2018. An independent European evaluation study underlines the positive impact of the current protocol in terms of sustainable fishing and its […]
Ten days before the European Court of Justice (ECJ) delivers its verdict on the EU-Morocco fisheries agreement, Willy Fautré, director of Human Rights Without Frontiers (HRWF), told the EU Reporter news portal that the deal is mutually beneficial and conducive to promoting human rights in Morocco. The EU-Morocco Fisheries Partnership Agreement is due for renewal […]
“The strategic partnership between the EU and Morocco, which started as early as 1960, should not be undermined by certain lobbying groups, willing to use the existing legal void to act against the Union’s best interests,” said Ilhan Kyuchyuk, member of the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs committee. In an article in the European Parliament Magazine, […]
Spain’s State Secretary for Security, José Antonio Nieto, urged the European Union to lend more support to the migration policy launched by Morocco, which is steadily becoming more of a destination than a transit country. Nieto told Spanish daily ABC that Morocco has undertaken “colossal efforts” to combat illegal migration at a considerable cost that […]
European legal experts are increasingly warning of the dangers of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) meddling in EU international treaties. This came after the EU-Morocco fisheries deal was invalidated in a non-binding opinion by ECJ advisor Melchior Wathelet claiming that the deal “violates the rights of people from Western Sahara.” Should the ECJ follow […]
The joint committee of Moroccan and Spanish fisheries professionals expressed their strong support for a renewal of the Morocco-EU fisheries deal. “The deal provides for the respect of international law and human rights,” said the Spanish Federation for Fisheries (CEPESCA) in a statement following a meeting of the joint committee. The support of the joint […]
The European Commission seems set to renew the fisheries agreement with Morocco, which will expire in July 2018. The Commission has asked the European Council for a mandate to start negotiations with Morocco on the deal, which enabled, since 2013, 120 vessels from 11 EU countries to fish off Moroccan coasts. In 2017, both EU […]