Fisheries negotiations between the EU, Norway and Morocco remained inconclusive at the end of 2012, but discussions have now begun again, wih EU representatives meeting in Clonakilty, Ireland, from 15 to 17 January to try and reach an agreement on the management of shared stocks in the North Sea and in the North-East Atlantic.
Previously, on 18 December, the Council of the EU had set fishing opportunities and provisional TACs for the fish stocks concerned in 2013.
A third round of talks between EU delegations and Morocco also took place in Rabat, on 16 January, where a new protocol was negotiated within the framework of the fisheries partnership agreement in order to clarify conditions of access to Moroccan waters for boats flying the EU flag.
On 12 December 2011, the European Parliament had refused to prolong the agreement in force due to the lack of an acceptable solution on the question of the Eastern Sahara. Morocco also blocked European ships from entering its fishing zones.
A fourth round of negotiations will take place in Brussels from 30 January to 1 February.
2012 Europolitics