Morocco
The current Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the EU and Morocco entered into force on 28 February 2007 for a period of four years. It has been tacitly renewed, from 28 February 2011 to 27 February 2015. The first Protocol to this Agreement ran until 27 February 2011 and provided for a financial contribution of 36.1 million € out of which 13.5 million € was dedicated to the support of the fisheries policy of Morocco. Vessels from 11 EU Member States could obtain fishing authorisations from Morocco under the Agreement and this Protocol.
A second Protocol, extending its predecessor by one year under essentially the same terms, was negotiated in February 2011 and provisionally applied until December 2011, when the European Parliament decided not to consent to its conclusion.
Negotiations for the conclusion of a new Protocol have started in November 2012, with five rounds being held so far.
Main features of the FPA
| Duration of the Agreement: | 4 years renewable (28.2.2011-27.2.2015) |
| Duration of the previous Protocols: | 4 years (28.2.2007-27.2.2011) + 1 year (28.2.2011-27.2.2012), provisionally applied until 14.12.11. |
| Initialling: | 29 July 2005 + 25 February 2011 |
| Nature of the FPA: | Mixed agreement |
| Financial contribution: | 36.1 million €/year out of which 13.5 million € was earmarked for the support of Moroccan sectoral fisheries policy in order to promote sustainability in its waters. |
| Fee for ship owners: |
Tuna: 25 € per tonne caught |
| Advances: | Tuna fishing: 5000 € per year |
History
The first fisheries agreement concluded between the EU and Morocco dates back to 1995. At that time, it was by far the most important fisheries agreement between the EU and a third country. However, the parties did not reach an agreement to renew the protocol in 1999 and there was no agreement until the current Fisheries Partnership Agreement came into force in February 2007.
Legal history of the fisheries agreements
The legal history of the fisheries agreements can be accessed through EUR-Lex. To search please type "MOROCCO" in the field "Search for", and type "FISH*" in the field "with". Then click the button "search".
Legal framework
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Fisheries Partnership Agreement and first protocol
: Adopted by Council Regulation EC No 764/2006 of 22.5.2006 (OJ L141 of 29.5.2006) - Second Protocol: Provisionally applied pursuant to Council Decision 2011/491/EU of 12.7.2011 (OJ L202, 5.8.2011); provisional application terminated pursuant to Council Decision 2012/15/EU of 20.12.2011 (OJ L6 of 10.1.2012)