Morocco-EU Fishing Agreement: Implications and Perspectives

The agreement has been surrounded by countless disputes, ratifications and cancellations, mixing economic interests with political pressures. Since some non-official voices started denouncing the agreement eight years ago, claiming that it involved the plundering of fisheries resources in the southern provinces of Morocco, its validity has been challenged by the European Court of Justice. Although a legal appeal allowed the greement’s effects to be maintained until its expiry date, the final verdict from the Court of Justice is yet to be determined. This verdict is particularly challenged by the British court decision, which unequivocally rejected, on May 25th, the request from an organization seeking to challenge the association agreement between Morocco and the United Kingdom. The British justice system based its conclusions on legal grounds, arriving at diametrically opposite outcomes compared to those of the European Court.

From an economic perspective, Morocco has much to gain from ending this agreement. It no longer needs to engage in the ongoing litigations and uncertainties that have surrounded it for years. The agreement, which originated in 1988, has increasingly incorporated political dimensions into the renegotiation process since 2015. With the current agreement, 128 EU vessels from 11 member states are allowed to fish in Moroccan waters. In exchange, Morocco receives financial aid from the EU, including compensation for fishing access, support for its fishing sector, and payment of fees by shipowners.

Moreover, the outdated nature of the agreement and its misalignment with Morocco’s current partnership approach questions the decision on its renewal. The agreement’s focus on resource exploitation in exchange for financial compensation no longer aligns with Morocco’s vision of a partnership. The country seeks to position itself as a partner rather than merely selling resources for financial gain. Criticisms have highlighted the agreement as an exploitation of Morocco’s natural resources at low prices, and it has been politically leveraged as a means of pressuring the country. Morocco aims to utilize its resources more effectively and diversify its partnerships, exploring potential markets in Europe and beyond.

In a press briefing held in Rabat last Wednesday, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita, addressed the future of cooperation between Morocco and the European Union (EU) in the field of fisheries. He underlined that the Morocco-EU fisheries Agreement is still in force, while the fisheries Protocol, which was established for a four-year period (2019-2023), is “set to expire on July 17”, as the Protocol was designed for a specific duration.

Reflecting on the past four years, Minister Bourita described the implementation of the Protocol as “satisfactory” and emphasized the positive and mutually beneficial nature of the cooperation.

Furthermore, a joint Commission meeting in the fisheries sector is scheduled between Moroccan authorities and their European counterparts in Brussels this week. This aims to assess the past four years of cooperation. Regarding the future of the fisheries Agreement, the Moroccan government is currently considering three key parameters.

First is a “doctrinal” approach that prioritizes partnerships with clearer added value, aligning with the vision and foreign policy outlined by His Majesty King Mohammed VI.

Secondly, Morocco has developed a national fishing strategy called “Halieutis”, and implemented a vision dedicated to sector development, which takes into account operator expectations and requires adaptations in collaboration with partners.

The third parameter involves integrating scientific data into decision-making processes to preserve the vital natural resource for Morocco and ensure its sustainability.

Today, the Moroccan government is engaging in ongoing dialogue and cooperation with European partners based on these considerations and assessments, and aims to foster more advanced partnerships with stronger added value.

The ongoing discussions of the Morocco-EU fishing agreement renewal provides to the country an opportunity to decide and redefine its approach for partnerships and ensure the responsible and sustainable management of its fisheries resources