92000E0163

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0163/00

by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(26 January 2000)

Subject: Mr Fischler's visit to Morocco on 17 January

The fisheries agreement with Morocco expired on 30 November 1999. As a result, the fleet operating in Moroccan waters has been laid up, leading to all the inevitable socio-economic consequences. The fleet includes about 30 Portuguese vessels, which employ some 700 fishermen and provide 3 000 spin-off jobs, primarily in two communities dependent on the fisheries sector, Sesimbra and Olhão/Fuzeta. It is specialised to enable it to operate in the Moroccan fishing grounds and would therefore be quite difficult to convert to other uses.

According to an Agence Europe report dated 18 January 2000, it emerged from the meeting between the Member of the Commission concerned, Franz Fischler, and the Moroccan State Secretary Taieb Fassifihiri that the agreement will not be renewed. To quote the bulletin, The EU notes the fact that cooperation based on extraction activities mldr is now over and plans to explore other solutions.

1. How much credence should be attached to the above report? Has the Commission now ruled out the possibility of renewing the fisheries agreement?

2. What steps has it already taken in view of the fact that the fleet has been laid up because the agreement has expired?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(17 February 2000)

The Commission confirms that it is liaising with the Moroccan authorities in exploring all possible forms of new partnership that could be established with Morocco in the fisheries sector which would be mutually advantageous to both sides.

The Commission position remains unchanged from that set out over recent months, which is based essentially on the negotiating brief approved by the Council on 15 October 1999.

Financial support measures for shipowners and crews affected by the non-renewal of the agreement with Morocco have been authorised by the Commission already. As from 1 January 2000 these will be financed as part of programmes under the Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance (FIFG) 2000-2006 for Spain and Portugal, in accordance with the conditions laid down in the new FIFG Regulation.