FIS - Worldnews - Council endorses extension of fishing agreement with Morocco: "The majority of European Union (EU) Member States have approved an urgent negotiation with the Moroccan government to extend the current fishing agreement by 12 months.
This agreement, which expires on 27 February, allows 119 EU vessels, most of which are Spain, to fish in the African country's waters in exchange for financial compensation of EUR 36.1 million annually.
The Agriculture and Fisheries Council of the EU ratified the 'mandate' to the European Commission (EC) to quickly begin talks with the Moroccan authorities.
The EU decided to extend it despite negative votes from Sweden, Denmark and the United Kingdom, and the abstention of Germany and Finland.
Although during the last few months the parties tried to renew the fishing agreement, it still could not materialize due to differences over the Western Saharan problem.
A legal report by the European Parliament (EP) determined that the covenant was not respecting international law, as a result of the Saharawi population not receiving financial contributions from the EU. So the European Fisheries Commissioner, Maria Damanaki, asked Rabat to provide documentary evidence that the agreement also benefits the people."
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