Agreement between the EU and Morocco concerning liberalisation measures on agricultural and fishery products

Morocco and the EU concluded an association agreement on trade issues in 2000, which did not include fisheries and agriculture.

The Commission decided to change this with the present proposal.

Given the recent democratic struggles in the Maghreb region, extending a trade agreement to sectors involving a large proportion of Morocco's working population is a delicate matter.

The unclear status of the Western Sahara merely complicates things further.

The Greens believe that trade liberalisation in the aforementioned sectors will help large enterprises, not local farmers and fishers.

Consequently, it is not a good tool for fostering a democratic transition in Morocco.

Moreover, it would set a bad precedent for negotiations with the other countries in the region.

Applying the protocol to the agreement between the EU and Morocco to Western Sahara as well would be highly problematic under international law.

The Greens' greatest success was the extensive involvement of stakeholders from diverse backgrounds, ranging from lawyers representing the King of Morocco to small fishery associations.

During this consultation phase it became very clear how whilst European trade policy preaches democracy and sustainability, in practice it effectively supports land grabbing, excessive water use and industrial fishing methods.

In the end the Greens were overruled by a majority in Parliament.

The uncompromising position taken by the S&D MEP Vital Moreira proved decisive. He chairs Parliament's Committee on International Trade and has backed the protocol to the agreement with Morocco right from the outset.

Even when the damaging impact of the agreement became clear during the negotiations he failed to change his mind.