Algiers, June 13, 2016 (SPS) - Sahrawi Foreign Minister Mohamed Salem Ould Salek revealed Sunday that the first hearing at the appeal trial on the decision of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) on the cancellation of the EU-Morocco agricultural agreement will be held on July 19, adding that the CJEU will face a tough test to affirm its credibility.
Hosting a press conference on Sunday at SADR Embassy in Algiers, Ould Salek said that after having made public the CJEU decision on the cancellation of the EU and Morocco liberalization accord of the agricultural and fishery products, due to the implementation of the agreement in Western Sahara, "Morocco and European countries, including France quickly pressured the CJEU to reconsider the decision."
Concerning the session of the trial, the Sahrawi minister said that "the first hearing will take place on July 19th and will be devoted to speeches of the defense,” stressing that for Western Sahara, the trial has a "political character and not legal."
According to the same official, it clearly appears that France has pressured the European countries, notably Spain, Portugal, Belgium and Germany to convince them to appeal the decision of the Court of Justice of the European Union.
The European Court is now facing a severe test: to prove its independence, he said.
As for him, the Sahrawi minister for Europe, Mohamed Sidati said that the Court of Justice of the European Union decision is an achievement for Western Sahara issue, for it doesn’t recognize Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara.
Sidati said the cancellation on December 10, of the agreement on reciprocal liberalization in agricultural products between the EU and Morocco is "a rejection of any alleged Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara."SPS
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