RECOMMENDATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL to authorise the Commission to open negotiations on behalf of the European Union for the renewal of the protocol to the Fisheries Partnership Agreement with the Kingdom of Morocco
Date: 2011-02-11
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU relations, Morocco, common fisheries policy, fishing agreement, fishing rights, ratification of an agreement

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EUROPEAN COMMISSION 

Brussels, 11.2.2011 
SEC(2011) 170 final 

RECOMMENDATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL 

to authorise the Commission to open negotiations on behalf of the European Union for 
the renewal of the protocol to the Fisheries Partnership Agreement with the Kingdom of 
Morocco

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RECOMMENDATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL 

to authorise the Commission to open negotiations on behalf of the European Union for 
the renewal of the protocol to the Fisheries Partnership Agreement with the Kingdom of 
Morocco 

1. 

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM  

The  European  Union  and  the  Kingdom  of  Morocco  have  concluded  a  Fisheries  Partnership 
Agreement  and  its  related  protocol,  which  was  adopted  on  22  May  20061  and  entered  into 
force on 28 February 2007. The protocol, which grants fishing opportunities for EU vessels and 
fixes the financial counterpart, will expire on 27 February 2011. 

The application of the current Agreement extends to waters south of 27° 40' N. In line with 
the specificity of the latter zone under international law and the legal conditions under which 
the  EU  has  engaged  with  Morocco  in  a  bilateral  agreement  including  this  zone,  the 
Commission asked Morocco on several occasions throughout 2010 to provide an assessment 
of  the  benefits  of  the  present  Agreement  to  the  local  population.  Morocco  replied  to  this 
request on 13 December. While continuing to assess the situation on this basis, it is proposed 
to renew the current Protocol for one year, so as to allow for time to conclude negotiations on 
a  revised  protocol  with  appropriate  guarantees,  and  for  fishing  activities  to  continue  in  the 
meantime.  The  Council  is  asked  to  adopt  the  negotiation  guidelines  attached  to  this 
recommendation.  

2. 

RECOMMENDATION 

In light of the above, the Commission recommends that:  

–  The Council authorises the Commission to open and conduct negotiations for the renewal 
of the protocol in the framework of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement with the Kingdom 
of Morocco; 

–  The renewal is to be limited to one year; 

–  The Commission is nominated as the Union negotiator for this subject; 

–  The  Commission  shall  conduct  such  negotiations  in  consultation  with  the  special 
committee  pursuant  to  the  provisions  laid  down  in  the  Treaty  on  the  functioning  of  the 
European Union; 

–  The Council approves the negotiation guidelines attached to this recommendation.  

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OJ L 141 of 29 May 2006, p. 1 

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ANNEX 

Negotiation guidelines 

–  The  objective  of  the  negotiations  is  the  renewal  of  the  protocol  in  the  framework  of  the 
Fisheries  Partnership  Agreement  between  the  European  Union  and  the  Kingdom  of 
Morocco,  in  line  with  the  15  July  2004  Council  conclusions  on  fisheries  partnership 
agreements based on the Commission's communication of 23 December 2002. 

–  With  a  view  to  ensuring  the  promotion  of  sustainable  and  responsible  fisheries,  the 

Commission's negotiation objectives will be as follows:  

–  Renewing the current Protocol for one year, necessary for the adoption of a new 
legal  framework  of  EU-Morocco  fisheries  relations,  subject  to  the  following 
conditions: 

–  An  adjustment  of  fishing  opportunities  in  line  with  the  best  available  scientific 

advice;  

–  Regular reporting on the implementation of sectoral policy, based on commonly 

agreed indicators, including the regional impact of the protocol. 

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