Morocco has criticized a recent ruling by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) that revoked trade deals allowing the country to export fish and farm products from Western Sahara to the EU. The court found that the deals violated the rights of the people of Western Sahara to self-determination, as they were not consulted before the agreements were signed.
The ruling was hailed as a “historic victory” by the Algerian-backed Polisario Front, which seeks independence for Western Sahara. The court also specified that products from the region must now be labelled as originating from Western Sahara, not Morocco, to prevent consumer confusion.
Morocco rejected the ruling, calling it biased and pointing out what they see as legal errors and factual mistakes in the decision. The country urged the EU to uphold their commitments and preserve their partnership with Morocco.
The EU’s top officials, including Ursula von der Leyen and Josep Borrell, stated their intention to maintain a strong relationship with Morocco despite the ruling. The UN has been involved in efforts to resolve the territorial dispute, but a planned referendum has yet to be held due to disagreements between the parties involved.
The situation in Western Sahara remains complex, with thousands of Sahrawi refugees living in camps in Algeria. The UN Security Council continues to call for a political solution to the conflict, emphasizing the need for dialogue and compromise between the parties.
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