BRUSSELS, Aug 16 (Reuter) - The European Union and Morocco made little progress on Wednesday in negotiations for a new pact to allow EU fishing vessels to return to Moroccan fishing grounds next month, a European Commission spokeswoman said. After six days of discussions in the sixth round of negotiations, they have still to tackle the central issue of fish catch quotas.
"Very little happened," the spokeswoman said, adding that another meeting was planned on Thursday.
Morocco, which has demanded sharp cuts in EU fish quotas and increased landings in Moroccan ports to help develop its fishing industry, was showing no sign of urgency.
"The Commission is ready to get into the substance...therès a certain degree of frustration," said the spokeswoman.
The return on Wednesday of EU Fisheries Commissioner Emma Bonino was expected to give new political impetus to the talks which have so far dealt with technical issues.
Around 730 EU fishing vessels, mostly Spanish, have been tied up in port since a previous accord was scrapped one year early at the end of April.
The agreement is the E s most important external fisheries pact, providing a living for 28,000 people in southern Spain, the Canary islands and Portugal.
