Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/1999-10-28-Speech-4-142"
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"en.19991028.4.4-142"2
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"Mr President, Commissioner, the fisheries agreement with the Kingdom of Morocco is by far the most important ever signed by the European Union by virtue of the number of Community vessels which it affects, the fishing opportunities which it opens up and the jobs which depend directly on it, more than 8,000 fishermen and 20, 000 workers.
A number of regions within several European Union Member States are closely, if not totally, dependent on this fisheries agreement. Everyone here knows that if this agreement were not renewed, then the whole European Union fishing sector would suffer indirectly from the consequences. Effectively, the fishing vessels that could no longer fish in Moroccan waters would inevitably transfer their activities to other areas, thus risking causing dangerous chain reactions and imbalances harmful to everyone.
It should have come as no surprise to the Commission to find that the Moroccans are tough negotiators. It should have come to this conclusion before. We already experienced considerable difficulties when negotiating the agreement currently in force. It is, furthermore, perfectly legitimate for Morocco to seek to manage its fishing resources to the best advantage of its long-term interests. It would be remiss of us to reproach them for this. But it must be possible to integrate this requirement properly, and respect it fully, within the framework of a new agreement.
Yet, has the Commission made our Moroccan friends sufficiently aware of the formidable consequences that Member States of the Union would have to deal with as a result of the non-renewal of this fisheries agreement with them? We have the impression that the Commission has not shown the necessary zeal in this matter. The fisheries agreement expires on 30 November. The Commission was very tardy in requesting its negotiating mandate. New negotiations have not been initiated, even though the deadline is only one month away.
What mechanism is envisaged, Commissioner, if the situation becomes deadlocked, to prevent the vessels directly concerned, the fishing sector participants affected, the regions concerned and, most especially, Objective 1 and 2 areas which are dependent on fishing, as our joint resolutions specifies, bearing the brunt of the disastrous consequences in the event of non-renewal of the agreement? Just now, Commissioner, you were rather vague on this essential point. There is no question that the Commission has demonstrated passivity, incompetence and laxity, even though this is an essential task entrusted to it under the terms of the Treaties.
If the Commission does not now devote all the energy needed to preserve this fundamental pillar of the common fisheries policy which the fisheries agreements represent, then there will be great and justified pressure from those working in the fishing sector to demand that the common fisheries policy is challenged and a bilateral framework reintroduced enabling fisheries agreements to be signed directly between Member States and third countries, agreements which would better respect and defend the vital interests of our nations.
This is to say, Commissioner, that the issues involved in the negotiations with Morocco are particularly important to the very future of the common fisheries policy. We therefore hope that in Brussels, Strasbourg or Seattle, you will give it all the priority attention which it demands."@en1
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