The Moroccan-EU fishing agreement will expire on July 17, barring an appeal by the Court of Justice of the European Union (C.J.E.U.) concerning the inclusion of Moroccan Sahara waters in the Treaty–which serves as a wild card for the two major Spanish political parties, the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (P.S.O.E.) and the People’s Party (P.P.)–in advance of the newly-expedited July 23 election.
The fishing agreement between Morocco and the E.U. is set to expire in the absence of an appeal by the C.J.E.U. concerning the inclusion of Moroccan Sahara waters in the Treaty. The country has stated that it will not adhere to a treaty which does not affirm its sovereignty over Sahara.
The independent Government of Andalusia expressed concern following the expiration of this fishing agreement, noting that the non-renewal of the agreement would affect both crews and shipowners, as well as associates in the sector, which would result in a negative economic impact for workers in the province.
The same source has urged Spain’s Minister of Agriculture, Luis Planas, to work with Brussels in trying to persuade the European Commission to open immediate negotiations with Morocco as soon as possible in order to reach a mutually beneficial solution to this hallmark maritime agreement.
The C.J.E.U. voted to nullify the agreement between the EU and Morocco in September, 2021. The E.U., however, challenged the ruling, which had been anticipated.