DG MARE evaluation of the EU-Morocco Fisheries Partnership Agreement

EN E-000823/2018 Answer given by Mr Vella on behalf of the Commission (25.5.2018) The Commission would like to emphasise that all Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreements (SFPAs) or the Protocols thereto already contain explicit provisions concerning the respect for democratic principles and fundamental human rights and rules allowing for the suspension of the Protocol in case of breach of these principles. Furthermore, prior and beyond the bilateral partnership on fisheries policies, respect of democratic principles and human rights is monitored in the framework of the broader relationship of the Union with the partner country. The results of this monitoring could, in certain cases, have implications on the implementation of the SFPA. Ex-ante and ex-post evaluations of SFPAs are focused on the environmental and socio-economic analyses of implementation and performance of SFPAs and provide information to be taken into account in view of negotiations with the third country for the renewal of the Agreement/Protocol to the SFPA. It should be noted that the Roadmap covering the ex-post and ex-ante evaluations of the SFPA and the Protocol with Morocco was published for feedback from citizens and stakeholders between 26 April 2017 and 24 May 2017, which noted inter alia the need for the future protocol to be concluded respecting human rights and democratic principles. In the upcoming negotiation of an amendment to the SFPA and of a new Protocol, the Commission will take into account the judgments and rulings of the European Court of Justice, whose decisions are binding on the EU institutions and the Member States, including the ruling in case C-263/14 (European Parliament/Council) as compliance with the principles of the rule of law and human rights are required for all actions of the European Union.