EU Court Ruling Threatens Spanish Fishing Access in Moroccan Waters

The decision of the European court to cancel the fisheries agreement between Morocco and the European Union will not be without consequences for Spain, whose 93 fishermen from Andalusia, Galicia and the Canary Islands operate in Moroccan waters. Spanish Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Luis Planas, who wants to be reassuring, said that "the government will work to preserve the interests of Spanish fishermen" after this decision.

To read: EU Court to Rule on Morocco-EU Fisheries Agreements in Western Sahara Dispute

"We believe that the judgments rendered do not call into question the relations with Morocco," added the minister, specifying that it is still "too early" to pronounce on this decision of the European court which was announced in a "brief press release", which specifies that despite the decision rendered, the two agreements "remain in force" for a determined period.

To read: Spain-Morocco Tensions Threaten EU Fishing Agreement, Spanish Fishermen Worry

For the Minister of Fisheries, Morocco is a "strategic partner" for Spain, as 93 out of the 132 vessels fishing in Moroccan waters come from the Andalusian, Galician and Canarian fleets. "We are interested in the continuity of the agreement, but in compliance with international law and within the framework of the cooperation and friendship relations that we maintain with Morocco," he stressed.