COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF THE EVALUATION Accompanying the document Recommendation for a Council decision 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: 2018-01-08
Institutions: Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, European Commission
Subjects: Morocco, fishing agreement, fishing rights, negotiation of an agreement (EU), protocol to an agreement, ratification of an agreement, sustainable development

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   EUROPEAN COMMISSION  Brussels, 8.1.2018 SWD(2018) 2 final  COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF THE EVALUATION Accompanying the document Recommendation for a Council decision 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 {COM(2018) 1 final} - {SWD(2018) 1 final}  
 
 
The  sustainable  fisheries  partnership  agreements  concluded  between  the  European  Union 
and  third  countries  are  based  on  the  principles  of  sustainability,  transparency  and  non-
discrimination, and contribute to the establishment of a governance framework for external 
fisheries. The Commission is required to carry out an ex-post and ex-ante evaluation before 
any  negotiations  on  a  new  protocol;  this  is  a  routine  step  in  the  negotiation  process.  This 
document sets out the results of the evaluation1 of the current protocol between the EU and 
Morocco, which expires on 14 June 20182.  

The protocol offers access to the Moroccan fishing zone for 126 EU vessels operating in six 
fishing  categories  and  targeting  pelagic  and  demersal  species  in  exchange  for  an  annual 
contribution from the EU of EUR 30 000 000, of which EUR 16 000 000 in return for access 
and  EUR 14 000 000  to  support  the  national  fishing  industry.  The  beneficiary  shipowners, 
from 11 Member States, pay fees of around EUR 10 000 000 a year. 

The Commission is satisfied with the evaluation, which examines five well-defined criteria; 
the results are reliable and the recommendations are relevant. The analysis presented in the 
SWD shows that the agreement is very important for the EU, its fleet and Morocco.  

The  protocol  is  effective  in  allowing  access  to  a  large  fishing  zone  for  both  traditional, 
small-scale  undertakings  and  industrial  fleets  from  the  EU.  It  ensures  the  sustainability  of 
the  fisheries  and  helps  maintain  the  profitability  of  ships  operating  in  Morocco.  It 
contributes  to  sustainable  development  in  the  Moroccan  fishing  industry  and  supports  the 
implementation of the Halieutis strategy. The protocol offers added value and is efficient for 
both parties – it offers a good return on investment for the EU and its efficiency for Morocco 
is comparable to that of other multi-species agreements. The protocol is relevant, in that its 
objectives correspond to the needs identified. It complements the network of EU agreements 
in  the  Atlantic  and  gives  shipowners  fishing  opportunities  suited  to  their  needs.  For 
Morocco, it provides access to resources of which full use is not made locally, and promotes 
economic  interaction.  Finally,  the  protocol  is  consistent  with  and  complements  other  EU 
initiatives.  

The  evaluation  makes  various  recommendations  to  be  taken  into  consideration  by  the 
Commission  in  the  negotiations  on  a  future  protocol,  including  maintaining  most  of  the 
conditions  in  the  current  protocol.  The  Commission  agrees  with  the  conclusions  of  the 
evaluation  and  considers  renewal  of 
the  best  option.  The 
recommendations  are  considered  relevant  for  such  a  renewal.  However,  the  Commission 
considers  that  some  technical  provisions  should  be  reviewed.  Finally,  it  considers  it 
appropriate to  include blue growth  in the sectoral support, which would be relevant  in  the 
context of a regional and proximity policy in which Morocco plays an important role. 

the  Protocol 

to  be 

1 Ex-post and ex-ante evaluation of the protocol to the sustainable fisheries partnership agreement between the European Union and the 
Kingdom of Morocco. Final report, September 2017 (F&S, Poseidon and Megapesca). 
2 Council Decision 2013/720/EU of 15 November 2013 on the signing and provisional application of the protocol (OJ L 328, 7.12.2013, 
p. 1) and the text of the protocol (OJ L 328, 7.12.2013, p. 2); Council Decision 2013/785/EU of 16 December 2013 on the conclusion (OJ 
L 349, 21.12.2013, p. 1). 

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