In yesterday’s closed hearing of the European Parliament’s fisheries committee, Damanaki stated that time was rapidly running out, making the withdrawal of the EU’s fleet operating under the agreement imminent.

From what WSRW has learned, Damanaki mentioned that she had already presented a project for extension to the rest of the Commission, but the other directorate-generals are still discussing what line to take.

According to the Spanish news service Efe, the Commissioner specified that the proposal included two options: conclude a new agreement which excludes the waters of Western Sahara, or push for a transitional one-year extension, on the same terms as the current pact.

The fact that the first option, which was launched last December, didn’t elicit any support within the Commission, makes the second option more probable.

Damanaki also mentioned that at the end of December, the Moroccan authorities had provided additional information on the “regional” impact of the agreement. The Commissioner qualified this as “a step in the right direction”.

For months, the Commissioner has been quite clear that the requested data on the benefits of the agreement for the people of Western Sahara are an absolute condition for renewal.

So far, the European Commission has not presented any evidence as to how the Saharawi people have been consulted in the process of the EU-Moroccan fish talks. Such consultation is necessary for the such activity to be in line with international law, according to the United Nations. See the UN opinion here.

Damanaki indicated that whichever solution would be found, would have to encourage both a greater involvement from Morocco, as well as the examination of legal information and guarantees.