WRITTEN QUESTION No. 443/99 by Daniel VARELA SUANZES- CARPEGNA EU-Morocco Fisheries Agreement and cooperation relations
12. 11. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 325/115 Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission (19 April 1999) The Commission is collecting the information it needs to answer the question. It will communicate its findings as soon as possible. (1999/C 325/160) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0443/99 by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE) to the Commission Subject: EU-Morocco Fisheries Agreement and cooperation relations (4 March 1999) The current EU Morocco fisheries agreement is about to end, and in view of its importance for the Community fishing industry and its implications for employment, I should like to know bilateral relations context in which the new fisheries agreement is to be negotiated. Would the Commission therefore provide precise details of the current state of cooperation relations between the EU and the Kingdom of Morocco, the future outlook for these relations, the benefits granted by the EU to Morocco and the aid which that country receives? Answer given by Mrs Bonino on behalf of the Commission (1 April 1999) The Agreement on cooperation in the sea fisheries sector between the Community and Morocco entered into force on 1 December 1995 for a period of four years. It will therefore expire on 30 November 1999. Under this agreement the Community obtained fishing opportunities in Moroccan waters in return for which it granted Morocco compensation of EUR 500 million over the four years, broken down into financial compensation (EUR 355 million), cooperation in the fisheries sector (EUR 121 million), scientific research in the fisheries sector (EUR 16 million) and maritime training (EUR 8 million). In accordance with the provisions of the agreement, the Community transferred EUR 126 million to Morocco for the period 1 December 1998 to 30 November 1999 (financial compensation EUR 80 million; fisheries cooperation EUR 40 million; fisheries research EUR 4 million; maritime training EUR 2 million). Shipowners authorised to carry out fishing activities under the agreement also pay fees in relation to the value of the target species and the size of their ships. The Community and Morocco signed a Euro-Mediterranean association agreement on 26 February 1996. On a commercial level, the Community exempts imports of industrial products originating in Morocco from customs duties or charges having equivalent effect and from import restrictions or measures with equivalent effect. A number of Moroccan agricultural products, including fisheries products, may also be imported into the Community duty free or at a reduced tariff. With respect to financial cooperation, Morocco benefits from the MEDA programme which promotes Morocco’s integration into the Euro-Mediterranean economic area by supporting economic transition and facilitates harmonious development of the country by contributing to better socio-economic balance. A total of EUR 454 million was allocated to Morocco under this programme in the form of budget funds for the period 1996-98