EU and Morocco

Morocco has an Advanced Status Association Agreement with the European Union and is the only North African country with which the EU has regular political dialogues focusing on bilateral relations and matters of mutual interest.  Morocco is also the EU's major commercial partner for trade, combatting corruption and harmonising industrial and technical standards.

In 2007 the EU and Morocco negotiated a Fisheries Partnership Agreement which enables EU trawlers to fish in Morocco's 3,600 km of coastal waters in the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, and provides Morocco with funds to invest in creating and developing new and existing fishing ports and allied industries, as a means of creating sustainable employment, investing in training, and local infrastructure, such as building homes, factories, roads, railways, etc.  

The Government of Morocco has spent many times more money than it has received from the EU in developing the country, in line with its National Development Plan.  For example in its Southern Provinces, where there are only 600-700 km of coast, new ports have been developed, such as at Boujdour where Euro 2.4 million has helped create employment in the fishing and allied sectors, and at Dakhla where modem storage facilities are being installed at a cost of Euro 2.2 million.  The local population is the main beneficiary - directly through employment and training and through investment in infrastructure and the fish processing industry, which in turn attracts further investment.  This is in accordance with the EU's own development goals for Morocco as well as providing additional opportunities for EU fishermen.  Morocco expects to triple its fisheries exports by 2020, which will provide 41,900 jobs of which 27,700 will be in its Southern Provinces.

The EU-Moroccan Fisheries Partnership Agreement has enabled surplus fishing stocks to be fished by EU fishermen, safeguarding European jobs; has created a sustainable fishing industry in Morocco, providing better living and working condition for Moroccans; and has encouraged environmentally-friendly fisheries management in Moroccan waters, such as the abolition of drift nets.

In accordance with the Fisheries Partnership Agreement, Morocco has provided data illustrating how this Agreement has benefitted the local population, as well as welcoming EU Member States and EU officials to see the improvements in Moroccan peoples' lives.

On 11 November the European Fisheries Committee endorsed and voted in favour of renewing the Fisheries Partnership Agreement with Morocco, enabling 119 EU vessels to fish in Moroccan waters and providing Euro 13.5 million to help support sustainable Moroccan fishing practices. 

December 2011