EU-Morocco trade talks: replacing Saharawis with Moroccans
Both the EU and Morocco seem keen conclude the negotiations to keep occupied Western Sahara within the territorial scope of their bilateral trade deal - in spite of a judgment by the EU's highest Court ruling this out.
23 October 2017, the European Union's Foreign Affairs Chief, Federica Mogherini, met with Moroccan Foreign Affairs Minister Nasser Bourita in Brussels. According to the official press release by the EU's External Action Service, the meeting allowed both parties to "note the progress made in the ongoing negotiations for amending the Protocols to the Agricultural Agreement between the EU and the Kingdom of Morocco. The High Representative [Mogherini] and the Minister [Bourita] expressed their common determination to complete them as soon as possible."
Since you're here.... WSRW’s work is being read and used more than ever. But our financial situation is tough. Our work takes time, dedication and diligence. But we do it because we believe it matters – and we hope you do to. If everyone who reads our website or likes us on Facebook, would contribute to our work – 3€, 5€, 27€ … what you can spare – the future of WSRW would be much more secure. You can donate to WSRW in less than a minute here. At the root of these negotiations lies a judgment of the Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU) of December 2016, concluding that Western Sahara is a territory that is "distinct and separate" from Morocco, and that as such, no EU trade or association deal with Morocco can be applied to the territory unless with the explicit consent of the people of the territory: the Saharawis. One of the direct implications for this ruling is the end of preferential access to the EU market for goods coming from occupied Western Sahara (although the exact implementation of this legally binding obligation remains unclear).
However, from what Western Sahara Resource Watch can establish, no effort has been made by Morocco or the EU to seek the consent of the people of the territory in the the trade talks, a requirement that CJEU was crystal clear about.
While it is unclear how the EU Commission, tasked with the talks, will assure itself of the consent of the people of Western Sahara, the Moroccan government does seem to have spotted a way of turning this obstacle into "an opportunity" - as Moroccan media today puts it: "granting Morocco the opportunity to place the local elected representatives, deputies and councilors of the province as representatives of the inhabitants".
Western Sahara Resource Watch warns that this is a highly problematic, and illegal, approach.
"The Court has clearly dictated that for any deal to lawfully affect the territory of Western Sahara, it requires the consent of the people of the territory, not the population of the territory - which are two different notions", says Davide Contini from Western Sahara Resource Watch.
He stresses that there is no mention of the population of Western Sahara in the judgment from the court.
"The fact that Morocco seeks to obfuscate those two concepts, is unacceptable, yet completely unsurprising. We expect that the EU supports the basic principles of international law, and chooses to respect the ruling from the CJEU. Negotiating with Morocco or with Moroccan institutions over the territory of Western Sahara is illegal and puts an obstacle to the UN peace process. It also sets a dangerous precedent for the EU to negotiate similar trade deals with Russian institutions in Crimea or Israeli bodies in illegal settlements, with reference to the Russian or Israeli populations", Contini stated.
Morocco occupies the major part of its neighbouring country, Western Sahara. Entering into business deals with Moroccan companies or authorities in the occupied territories gives an impression of political legitimacy to the occupation. It also gives job opportunities to Moroccan settlers and income to the Moroccan government. Western Sahara Resource Watch demands foreign companies leave Western Sahara until a solution to the conflict is found.
Leading activists from Western Sahara are condemned to sentences ranging from 20 years to life imprisonment in connection to a mass protest in 2010 denouncing the Saharawi people’s social and economic marginalization in their occupied land; the Gdeim Izik protest camp.
At COP22, beware of what you read about Morocco’s renewable energy efforts. An increasing part of the projects take place in the occupied territory of Western Sahara and is used for mineral plunder, new WSRW report documents.
Big oil’s interest in occupied Western Sahara has taken a dramatic turn for the worse. Some companies are now drilling, in complete disregard of international law and the Saharawi people’s rights. Here’s what you need to know.
