Lisbon (Portugal) 22 October 2024 (SPS)— The Portuguese Left Bloc raised formal questions to its Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding a shipment from occupied Dakhla, on October 8, expressing concerns over the continued illegal transportation of goods from the occupied territories of Western Sahara, involving Portuguese-owned vessels.
This letter follows the October 4 ruling by the European Court of Justice (ECJ), which declared that EU trade agreements with Morocco involving agricultural and fishing products from Western Sahara violate the Sahrawi people's right to self-determination.
According to the Left Bloc, a Portuguese-owned ship, the ASSABI (IMO 9059432), has been implicated in smuggling royal crab from Dakhla to Europe via a Portuguese-registered truck (license plate AO 38 LJ). The party alleges that the shift from sea to road transport is a tactic to avoid scrutiny after the ECJ ruling.
The Left Bloc recalled that this is not an isolated incident, with previous shipments also violating EU regulations, and called for the Portuguese government to investigate these activities and ensure that no further illegal imports from the occupied territories enter European markets.
Marisa Matias, a deputy of the Left Bloc and the writer of the letter to the Ministry, urged the government to act swiftly to prevent Portuguese vehicles and ships from breaching European laws.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has yet to respond to these allegations or confirm whether an investigation has been launched into the reported violations.
This situation continues to highlight the complex legal and ethical issues surrounding the European illegal exploitation and investment in the Sahrawi natural resources as more evidence surfaces, while pressure mounts on the Portuguese government to address its potential complicity in illegal trade from the occupied territory.
On October 8, deputies Marisa Matias and Fabian Figueiredo submitted questions to the Portuguese government regarding two ships flying the Moroccan flag, "Avila 2" and "Argan 2," which were carrying plundered marine products from occupied Western Sahara to Portugal.
The request for an investigation, directed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, follows a report stating that the two ships, owned by a company operated by Portuguese nationals and registered in Morocco, had departed from the occupied port of Dakhla loaded with frozen lobster.
According to the Bloc, the cargo was obtained from the occupied territories of Western Sahara in violation of EU regulations.
Despite official claims that the ships were heading to Portugal for repairs, the true purpose of the journey remains unclear, raising suspicions about the legality of their operations.
The parliamentary inquiry seeks clarification on three main points: whether the Portuguese government was aware of the arrival of the two ships in Portugal, what measures it plans to take to investigate the legality of the cargo, and what steps will be implemented to prevent port workers from becoming involved in illegal activities.
This action follows a historic ruling by the European Court of Justice on October 4, which reaffirmed that any trade agreements involving resources from Western Sahara require the consent of the Sahrawi people.
The Left Bloc emphasized that this ruling highlights the gravity of the issue, calling on the government to take swift action to ensure compliance with international law and EU regulations.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is expected to issue a response to the parliamentary inquiry regarding this matter. (SPS)
090/500/60 (SPS)