EU Fisheries Commissioner Maria Damanaki's Spokesperson, Helene Banner, stated: "After a very long and complicated negotiating process, the EU completed its internal ratification of the protocol to the EU-Morocco Fisheries Partnership Agreement on 16 December 2013. Our fishermen, whose activity under this agreement has been suspended since December 2011, have been waiting eagerly for this agreement to come into force. The lack of completion by Morocco of its own internal ratification process, preventing the fishing activity to resume, is regrettable. We look forward to the completion of the ratification process by Morocco as soon as possible so that this protocol can be put into effect."
The last protocol under the fisheries agreement with Morocco has been terminated in December 2011.
Following a lengthy and arduous negotiation process, a new protocol approved by EP and Council was signed at the end of 2013. Entry into force has been delayed until now, pending ratification of the protocol by Morocco.
