The Committee on Fisheries adopted the report by Carmen FRAGA ESTÉVEZ (EPP, ES) on the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Protocol between the European Union and the Kingdom of Morocco setting out the fishing opportunities and financial contribution provided for in the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Kingdom of Morocco.
Members recommended the European Parliament to give its consent to the conclusion of the Protocol.
2011 Protocol: in December 2011, after the European Parliament declined to grant its consent to a one-year extension of the fisheries protocol with Morocco, which expired on 27 February 2012, the Commission opened negotiations on the conclusion of a new protocol which has now been submitted for consent. Both parties bore Parliament's concerns very much in mind during the negotiations and agreed that the new text should seek to respond to the criticisms and guidelines contained in the European Parliament’s resolution adopted at the same time, which called for guarantees that it would be mutually beneficial and evidence that it would be based on economic, social and environmental sustainability.
2013 Protocol: Members took the view that Parliament should consent to conclusion of the protocol, since it will allow fishery relations with Morocco to resume on a fresh basis, much more in keeping with Parliament's demands. However, they reiterated the need for the Parliament to be kept punctually and fully informed about the application of the Protocol and its results. They insisted once again that representatives of the European Parliament should have the opportunity to attend meetings of the joint committee provided for the Fisheries Agreement as observers.
They further called on the Parliament to be provided with documentation on the guidelines, objectives and indicators concerning the chapter relating to support for the fisheries sector in Morocco, and all the information necessary for the proper monitoring of the aspects, including the final report that Morocco is to submit on the implementation of the sectoral support programme.
Members also reiterated their request to the Commission that it submit a full report on the results and operation of the current Protocol to the European Parliament, before opening negotiations on a new protocol.