Brussels (Belgium), March 09, 2017 (SPS) - The illegal exploitation of natural resources in western Sahara after the European Union Court of Justice (EUCJ) ruled on the matter has sparked concerns among the members of the EU Parliament (MEPs).
The MEPs called on the European Commission to publish the "consultative guidelines" for the attention of companies about the legal risks of disregarding EUCJ's decision.
In a written question to the European Commission, about twenty Eurodeputies, including Florent Marcellesi, Barbara Lochbihler, Bodil Valero and Max Andersson called on the EU high representative for Foreign Affairs and security policy, Federica Mogherini, to ask the European Union member states if they have plans to publish the "consultative guidelines" for firms to be aware of the legal risks and the harm to their reputation if they invest in Western Sahara.
The MEPs urged Mogherini to comment on the case of European companies, like Siemens, which conclude public contracts with Morocco, under the Moroccan law, and invest in illegal projects in Western Sahara territory.
The Eurodeputies invited the EU top official to admit that Morocco has no sovereignty over the territory of Western Sahara and, as a result, Moroccan national laws cannot be applied in Western Sahara, in line with the decision of the EU Court of Justice. SPS
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