Brussels, 9 April 2017 (SPS) – The illegal exploitation of Western Sahara natural resources continues to arouse the indignation of the European deputies who put pressure on the Commission to take the necessary measures to comply the decision of the Court of Justice of the European Union.
Last December the Court issued a ruling that the Association Agreement and the Free Trade Agreement between the EU and Morocco are not applicable in Western Sahara.
In a written question sent to the European Commission, Deputy Maria Arena seized the Commission about the measures to differentiate the Moroccan products manufactured in occupied Western Sahara and imported from Morocco during the transition period, before the modification of the Agreement, under the ECJ decision.
She also demanded a timetable on the implementation of the ECJ decision, issued on 21 December 2016.
Member Norbert Neuser invited the Commission to detail the measures planned to stop in the future the de factor application of the EU-Morocco Agreement on the agricultural produces and fisheries from Western Sahara.
Last 21 December 2016, the Court of Justice of the European Union issued a decision after several months of legal battle that the Agreement of the Association in force in 2000 and the Free Trade Agreement of 2012 between the EU and Morocco are not applicable in Western Sahara, since this territory can cot be part of the Kingdom of Morocco. (SPS)
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