Brussels (Belgium) 25 September 2024 (SPS) - Eight Spanish MPs called, in a letter addressed to the European Union, for maintaining EU support for the application of international law in resolving the Western Sahara issue, in response to France's recognition last July of what they described as the "alleged sovereignty" of Morocco over the occupied areas of Western Sahara. They warned that any unilateral stance could further complicate the situation in the region and expose it to new risks.
The letter, sent to the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, on September 14 and published by the Spanish newspaper El Independiente, was signed by a group led by MP Ana Miranda. It emphasized the need for the EU to adopt a public position that reinforces respect for international law regarding Western Sahara, expressing concern over the impact of unilateral support for Moroccan occupation on regional stability, especially considering the EU's strategic ties in areas such as energy and migration control.
In her remarks, MP Ana Miranda described French President Emmanuel Macron's decision as a "serious diplomatic insult," noting that it disregards international law and agreements concerning Western Sahara.
The MPs called for a meeting with Borrell to present arguments supporting the Sahrawi people's right to self-determination, pointing out that the region has been listed on the UN decolonization agenda since 1965, in line with the UN Charter.
The letter also recalled the 1991 UN decision to hold a referendum for self-determination in Western Sahara, which has yet to be implemented, and confirmed that international courts consider Western Sahara and Morocco as separate entities, with no legal body recognizing Moroccan sovereignty over the territory.
The MPs highlighted the EU's traditional position of supporting the UN, calling for the creation of a special unit for Western Sahara within the EU's external services.
They also referenced European court rulings regarding fishing agreements with Morocco, which deemed these agreements, involving Western Saharan waters, as illegal.
In this context, Miranda predicted that the European Court will soon affirm the legitimacy of the Polisario Front's position, noting that the Advocate General of the European Court of Justice, Tamara Capeta, had previously supported the annulment of the latest fishing agreement signed in 2019.
The European Court had previously issued rulings in 2016, 2018, and 2021 invalidating such agreements, which resulted in the suspension of fishing activities in Western Saharan waters since July last year. (SPS)
090/500/60 (SPS)