According to Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, Morocco is currently analysing its present fisheries partnership with the European Union in a way that accounts for its own fishing strategy and biological factors.
Recall that the General Court of the European Union had in 2021, reversed the EU-Morocco trade deals encompassing farm products and fish because they were approved of without the express permission of the Western Sahara people.
While Morocco regards the Western Sahara as its own, Algeria-backed Polisario rebels have been battling to establish an independent state there.
The European Commission reconsidered the ruling after it issued a joint statement with Morocco, stating that they would act to ensure the continuity of bilateral trade.
A final verdict is yet to be reached, but the fisheries deal will expire on Monday, July 17.
A Moroccan-EU joint fisheries committee will be holding a meeting sometime this week in Brussels, to evaluate the four-year deal.
Majority of the 128 fishing vessels operating in Morocco-controlled waters under the deal are from Spain.
Under this deal, the European Union, EU, contributed 208 million euros in more than four years.
According to official data, Morocco’s fisheries exports increased by 13% to $2.8 billion in 2022.
