Mohamed Sadiki, Moroccan Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, said on Wednesday. Country ‘ready for any scenario’ regarding fisheries deal renewal European Union (EU) will expire on 17 July and will choose “another rule” to negotiate.
“The contract ends this summer. Technical meetings are held all the time. CLet’s see what happens when it’s time to open the issue.“However, we are ready for any scenario,” the Moroccan minister said at a meeting with the press in Rabat by the Moroccan news agency MAP.
This is how he responded to a question about the latest statements by his Spanish counterpart, Luis Planas.He expressed his pessimism about the renewal of the agreement.It is pending an appeal from the EU courts on this suspension, which has been suspended by European courts for covering the waters of Western Sahara and will expire in July.
Sadiki, Morocco They currently have no “indicators” of whether there will be an extension.however, he pointed out that his country would choose “another rule” in the negotiation.
“The world is open and HE fishing industry has the potential to export and gain value. There will be a new orientation towards new talents and when it comes to negotiation, we will go with another rule,” said the Moroccan minister.
The fisheries agreement between the EU and Morocco and the related implementing protocol entered into force on 18 July 2019 with a validity of four years and granted 138 fishing licenses, of which Spain is the main beneficiary, with 93 licenses from Andalusia, the Canaries and Galicia.
In 2021, the EU Court of Justice ruled in favor of the Polisario Front. Demands the independence of Western SaharaHe argued that the treaty with Morocco involving the waters of the former Spanish colony was ratified without the consent of the Saharan people.
The Council of Europe appealed against this decision on 16 December 2021.