The EU Commission, running over its Fisheries Commissioner, is set to propose a one-year extension of the controversial fisheries agreement with Morocco, according to news reports.
At focus for the controversy is Morocco’s occupation since 1975 of Western Sahara, off which coast much of that fishing takes place.
An agreement between the EU and Morocco in effect since 2006 provides for the benefits to be transferred to the West Saharan people, 160,000 of which living in refugee camps since more than 30 years.
Critics say there is no proof that such has been the case, and the European Parliament’s legal experts found a year ago that the agreement was contrary to international law.
According to European Voice, the European Commission is expected to propose on 11 February that the partnership be extended by one year.
The pending decision was sharply criticised by both European Parliament members and the Saharan opposition to the occupation, which has been condemned by the UN.
Isabella Lövin, a Swedish Green MEP, told European Voice that extending the agreement would be tantamount to “legitimising occupied territory”.
“It would be extremely unfortunate at this moment of history to prolong the agreement…[as] now we are seeing the spirit of people in north Africa not accepting undemocratic rule” , she added, referring to the recent uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia.
Polisario, Western Sahara’s independence movement, blamed Spanish national interests.
“Instead of wanting to go forward, it [Spain] is sullying the reputation of all EU countries for 100 fish licences tainted by human-rights abuses,” Mohamed Beissat, Polisario’s representative to the EU, told the news site. Polisario is considering a legal challenge to any extension, citing legal opinions from both the UN and the European Parliament.
According to European Voice, Commissioner Maria Damanaki had wanted to exclude the waters off Western Sahara from a new agreement, but was overruled by colleagues in the Commission. With the Union under time pressure, Spain then presented to Coreper, the EU Ambassador’s congregation, the one-year extension alternative.
“We are in an urgent situation now in order to avoid a legal vacuum. The Commission has decided that the ‘north only’ is no option” an “EU source familiar with the details” told European Voice.
Western Sahara was a Spanish colony until Spain walked out in 1975, immediately to be replaced by neighbouring Morocco, whose army just walked in.
It still remains unclear what will happen to that proposal, however, since its has to be passed by both the Parliament and the EU member states.