LUXEMBOURG, Oct 26 (Reuter) - The European Union hopes Spanish and Portuguese vessels will be able to return to Moroccan fishing grounds by the end of November, Fisheries Commissioner Emma Bonino said on Thursday. The EU and Morocco have been trying for nearly six months to negotiate a new four-year fisheries agreement, with Morocco insisting on lower Spanish and Portuguese catches and increased landings in Moroccan ports.

"My aim is that by the end of November the Spanish and Portuguese will be able to start fishing again," Bonino told a news conference after a meeting of EU fisheries ministers.

The EU is making every effort to tie up the fisheries deal before a Euro-Mediterranean ministerial conference in Barcelona on November 27-28.

Bonino said she thought the marathon negotiations had reached the final lap and that an accord could be wrapped up very soon.

"I hope negotiations can be wound up in the next few days," she said.

But EU sources said a deal could be delayed yet again due to difficulties in separate negotiations with Morocco for a trade and cooperation agreement.

Several EU member states are reluctant to grant farm trade concessions to Morocco because they fear these would set a precedent and EU farmers would be unable to compete.

The EU and Morocco struck a political compromise over a new fisheries deal on October 13 and have since been drafting the details of the new agreement.

Around 700 Spanish and Portuguese vessels have been tied up in port since Morocco scrapped the previous agreement at the end of April. Some 40,000 fishing industry jobs have been at risk.