0
Quote
THE European Parliament voted on Wednesday to reject a proposed extension of the controversial EU-Morocco fisheries agreement and called on the Commission to negotiate a new, more environmentally and economically beneficial deal, which should take account of the interests of the Sahrawi population.
The current protocol, which has applied provisionally since 28 February this year, will cease to apply immediately.
MEPs voted in favour of a report drafted by Finland MEP Carl Haglund, which called on Parliament not to extend the current arrangements, mainly for economic, ecological and legal reasons. In so doing, they rejected a Fisheries Committee proposal to extend the contested protocol, by 296 votes to 326, with 58 abstentions.
“This should not be seen as a hostile move towards our partners; it should rather be seen as us taking ourselves seriously on a very important issue,” said Haglund in the debate before the vote.
Haglund argued that the one-year extension of the current protocol was unacceptable under the terms proposed by the European Commission because of its low cost-benefit ratio for the EU, the excessive exploitation of demersal stocks, the very limited contribution of EU funds to the development of local fisheries policy and the lack of proof that EU money benefits the local population of Western Sahara.
In a separate resolution, MEPs stressed that a new protocol must be economically, ecologically and socially sustainable and mutually beneficial.
In the future, the allocation of fishing opportunities should be based on scientific advice and EU vessels should be allowed to fish only surplus stocks. Financial support for the development of local fisheries must be used properly and more efficiently while monitoring of where the money goes must be improved.
MEPs also called on the Commission to ensure that a new protocol fully respects international law and benefits all affected local populations, including the Sahrawi people.
The resolution was approved with 544 votes in favour, 123 against and 33 abstentions.
The rejected protocol, which has applied provisionally since 28 February this year, will cease to apply immediately. Parliament expects the Commission to advance negotiations on a new protocol so as to avoid any provisional application in the future.
Speaking yesterday, European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Maria Damanaki said: “The Commission will fully respect today’s vote of the European Parliament. Tomorrow I am going to propose to the Council that it repeals the provisional application of the Protocol. We don’t know if a new Fisheries Protocol with Morocco is possible. We are going to explore all the possible ways forward.
“In any case - as I have already stated on several occasions - if a new fisheries Protocol with Morocco were to be proposed and agreed, it would have to give convincing answers to the key issues of environmental sustainability, economic profitability and international legality. The vote of the European Parliament sends a strong message to the Moroccan Government that it would need to engage for a better agreement on all these issues."
The current protocol, which has applied provisionally since 28 February this year, will cease to apply immediately.
MEPs voted in favour of a report drafted by Finland MEP Carl Haglund, which called on Parliament not to extend the current arrangements, mainly for economic, ecological and legal reasons. In so doing, they rejected a Fisheries Committee proposal to extend the contested protocol, by 296 votes to 326, with 58 abstentions.
“This should not be seen as a hostile move towards our partners; it should rather be seen as us taking ourselves seriously on a very important issue,” said Haglund in the debate before the vote.
Haglund argued that the one-year extension of the current protocol was unacceptable under the terms proposed by the European Commission because of its low cost-benefit ratio for the EU, the excessive exploitation of demersal stocks, the very limited contribution of EU funds to the development of local fisheries policy and the lack of proof that EU money benefits the local population of Western Sahara.
In a separate resolution, MEPs stressed that a new protocol must be economically, ecologically and socially sustainable and mutually beneficial.
In the future, the allocation of fishing opportunities should be based on scientific advice and EU vessels should be allowed to fish only surplus stocks. Financial support for the development of local fisheries must be used properly and more efficiently while monitoring of where the money goes must be improved.
MEPs also called on the Commission to ensure that a new protocol fully respects international law and benefits all affected local populations, including the Sahrawi people.
The resolution was approved with 544 votes in favour, 123 against and 33 abstentions.
The rejected protocol, which has applied provisionally since 28 February this year, will cease to apply immediately. Parliament expects the Commission to advance negotiations on a new protocol so as to avoid any provisional application in the future.
Speaking yesterday, European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Maria Damanaki said: “The Commission will fully respect today’s vote of the European Parliament. Tomorrow I am going to propose to the Council that it repeals the provisional application of the Protocol. We don’t know if a new Fisheries Protocol with Morocco is possible. We are going to explore all the possible ways forward.
“In any case - as I have already stated on several occasions - if a new fisheries Protocol with Morocco were to be proposed and agreed, it would have to give convincing answers to the key issues of environmental sustainability, economic profitability and international legality. The vote of the European Parliament sends a strong message to the Moroccan Government that it would need to engage for a better agreement on all these issues."
Damanaki later added: "Further to the European Parliament vote, the provisional application of the Protocol comes to an end and the EU vessels will stop fishing. This will be done in full accordance with international law and by applying the speediest procedures at our disposal. I remain committed to continue dialogue with Morocco on fisheries issues and have taken good note of the European Parliament's request to the Commission to move negotiations on a new Protocol forward."
