The Spanish government has asked the EU executive for a temporary extension - for at least one year - of the current fisheries agreement with Morocco, which expires on 27 February.

The Spanish authorities made this request to Brussels because it is expected that it will be impossible to conclude a new pact before that date.
Spain is the first beneficiary of the agreement signed with Morocco, since 100 of the 119 licenses awarded to the EU fleet are Spanish.
For her part, the Commissioner of Fisheries of the European Union (EU), Mary Damanaki, confirmed its interest in renewing the pact, but said that the team from the the European Commission (EC) has not yet officially decided on what terms, reports the EFE agency.
"Time is running out" and it is "imminent" that European vessels will stop fishing in Moroccan waters, said the European Commissioner.
Under the current fisheries agreement, the EU pays Morocco EUR 36.1 million per year in exchange for them allowing EU vessels to fish in its waters.