Ending bitter disputes over fishing quotas and farm exports, Morocco and the European Union (EU) signed wide-ranging trade and cooperation agreements recently. The pact, known as . 'Euro-Mediterranean accord', was delayed by a dispute over fishing quotas for Eu boats in Morocco's rich coastal waters. When the negotiations broke o ff, Morocco banned Spanish fishing boats from working in their traditional waters which led to strong protests from fisherfol.ks in southern Spain. Under the new fishing agreement, fish stocks would be shared between the signatories. In return, Eu would pay us $437.5 million over four years. The agreement was also stalled due to fears expressed by some EU nations about cheap fruits and flowers flooding their markets. Morocco compromised by allowing gradual increases over three or four years of exports of tomatoes, cut flowers, oranges and potatoes. "We are turning a page in our relations with the world's major trading bloc and entering a new era!', said Abdellatif Filali, prime minister of Morocco.
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