EU ships leave Morocco as bilateral fisheries deal expires - Xinhua

RABAT, July 14 (Xinhua) -- A four-year fisheries agreement between Morocco and the European Union (EU) will expire on Saturday midnight GMT, forcing the EU ships to leave the Moroccan waters.

Some 120 vessels from EU countries, including 90 vessels from Spain, have left the country as the two parties did not reach a new deal.

Morocco gets some 40 million euros (46.7 million U.S. dollars) every year for allowing the EU vessels to fish in its waters.

Since April 20, Morocco and the EU have been negotiating a new deal.