The European Parliament adopted on Tuesday by an overwhelming majority the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the EU and Morocco.
The accord and its protocol were adopted in Strasbourg at a plenary session by 415 votes in favor, 189 against and 49 abstentions.
“Morocco is the only country legally entitled, within the framework of the exercise of its sovereignty, to negotiate and sign agreements covering the Moroccan Sahara,” said the Moroccan Foreign Ministry in a statement.
Rabat expressed appreciation for “the collective action of European institutions and EU member states” and “hailed their continued commitment in favor of the strategic partnership” binding the two parties.
The European Parliament’s consent to the agreement was seen as a diplomatic victory for Morocco against the Algeria-backed Polisario Front.
The last agreement dating from 2011 became invalid in July last year. Its renewal coincided with the European Court of Justice issuing an official opinion that the agreement didn’t include Moroccan Sahara.
The new deal between Morocco and the EU, valid for four years, was signed on January 14 in Brussels before it was ratified by the EU Parliament in an open session on Tuesday.
It provides for a 30 percent increase in the financial contribution to Morocco, which would rise from €40 million to €52.2 million a year.
