WRITTEN QUESTION E-2355/01 by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE-DE) to the Commission. EU-Kingdom of Morocco relations.
Date: 2001-08-06
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Morocco, cooperation policy, fishing agreement, free-trade agreement

11.12.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 350 E/239

consider the free distribution of infant formulae by manufacturers and vendors in maternity clinics to be in
accordance with Directive 91/321/EEC (2) on infant formulae?

(1) OJ C 318 E, 13.11.2001, p. 227.
(2) OJ L 175, 4.7.1991, p. 35.

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(5 September 2001)

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its answer to his Written Question P-1229/01 (1).

That answer is still valid.

(1) OJ C 318 E, 13.11.2001, p. 227.

(2001/C 350 E/273)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2355/01

by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: EU-Kingdom of Morocco relations

(6 August 2001)

During their recent official visits to the Kingdom of Morocco in June 2001, the Commissioners responsible
for external relations, Chris Patten, and for trade, Pascal Lamy, formally stated their desire to improve and
expand existing co-operation between the EU and Morocco. In the words of Commissioner Patten, (cid:145)our
partners on the southern flank of the Mediterranean have a privileged place in our external relations(cid:146).
However, no reference was made in official speeches at any stage of those visits to the failure of
negotiations between the EU and Morocco on establishing a new framework for bilateral co-operation with
a view to the renewal of the fisheries agreement between the EU and Morocco, which collapsed owing to
the intransigence of the Moroccan negotiators, leading to the expulsion of more than 400 European vessels
from Moroccan fishing grounds, i.e. directly affecting 4 300 European fishermen who previously supplied
the EU market (cid:129) which can now be supplied by third countries (cid:129) and creating an extremely worrying
economic and social situation in some EU regions which depend heavily on fishing.

Does the Commissioner responsible for the EU(cid:146)s external relations consider the Kingdom of Morocco(cid:146)s
rejection of co-operation with the EU in the field of fishing to be of no significance in the context of the
EU(cid:146)s relations with Morocco?

Will Morocco(cid:146)s refusal to co-operate with the EU in matters of interest for the EU itself not have any effect
on bilateral relations, which are to be maintained and apparently expanded in matters of interest to
Morocco?

On 18 July 2001 the Commission adopted a proposal for a specific plan aimed at mitigating as far as
possible the serious economic and social situation affecting workers in the fleet which used to fish under
the agreement with Morocco. Will the EU reward Morocco with increased co-operation with the EU
insignificant (cid:129) financial effort which the EU must bear as a consequence of the
despite the (cid:129) still
intransigence and lack of co-operation shown by (cid:145)our partners on the southern flank of
the
Mediterranean(cid:146)?

Can the Commission explain why the serious social and economic impact on the EU of Morocco(cid:146)s
inflexible opposition to the renewal of fisheries co-operation with the EU will have absolutely no negative
repercussions on bilateral relations between the EU and Morocco and why, according to Commissioner
Patten, the Commission is even seeking to improve such co-operation?

C 350 E/240

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

11.12.2001

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(11 September 2001)

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its answer to Written Question E-1228/01 by
Mr Ribeiro e Castro (1).

(1) OJ C 318 E, 13.11.2001, p. 225.