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| European court annuls EU-Morocco trade deals after challenge from Western Sahara secessionists | European court annuls EU-Morocco trade deals after challenge from Western Sahara secessionists |
| (21 days later) | |
| An EU court has annulled agriculture and fishing agreements between the 27-nation bloc and Morocco after an objection from the people of Western Sahara was upheld. The annulment won’t come into effect immediately. | An EU court has annulled agriculture and fishing agreements between the 27-nation bloc and Morocco after an objection from the people of Western Sahara was upheld. The annulment won’t come into effect immediately. |
| On Wednesday, the General Court of the European Union, the second-highest chamber of the bloc, ruled in favor of the Polisario Front independence movement that had objected to the EU’s trade deals with Morocco. | On Wednesday, the General Court of the European Union, the second-highest chamber of the bloc, ruled in favor of the Polisario Front independence movement that had objected to the EU’s trade deals with Morocco. |
| The Polisario Front, which claims independence from the Western Sahara region and has established the self-declared Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, said the agriculture and fishing deals were agreed upon without the consent of people from the disputed North African territory. | The Polisario Front, which claims independence from the Western Sahara region and has established the self-declared Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, said the agriculture and fishing deals were agreed upon without the consent of people from the disputed North African territory. |
| The court deemed the Polisario Front was “recognized internationally as a representative of the people of Western Sahara,” and therefore the EU should have sought the consent of the Saharawi people before sealing any agreements with Morocco. | The court deemed the Polisario Front was “recognized internationally as a representative of the people of Western Sahara,” and therefore the EU should have sought the consent of the Saharawi people before sealing any agreements with Morocco. |
| In its ruling, the court also said the annulment of the deals would not come into effect immediately, but after a two-month period in which parties can lodge an appeal. In a joint statement, Morocco and the EU said they would ensure trade continues between the two. | In its ruling, the court also said the annulment of the deals would not come into effect immediately, but after a two-month period in which parties can lodge an appeal. In a joint statement, Morocco and the EU said they would ensure trade continues between the two. |
| The Polisario Front had challenged two agreements struck in 2019, both of which had been revised after they were found to not be applicable to Western Sahara. An earlier ruling – by the European Court of Justice in February 2018 – said a fisheries agreement between the EU and Morocco must be adjusted as the waters off Western Sahara should not be included as part of the North African kingdom. | The Polisario Front had challenged two agreements struck in 2019, both of which had been revised after they were found to not be applicable to Western Sahara. An earlier ruling – by the European Court of Justice in February 2018 – said a fisheries agreement between the EU and Morocco must be adjusted as the waters off Western Sahara should not be included as part of the North African kingdom. |
| The Western Sahara region was administered by Spain until Morocco annexed the region in the mid-1970s. Secessionists then fought a 16-year war with Morocco for its independence before the UN brokered a ceasefire between Morocco and the Polisario in 1991. | The Western Sahara region was administered by Spain until Morocco annexed the region in the mid-1970s. Secessionists then fought a 16-year war with Morocco for its independence before the UN brokered a ceasefire between Morocco and the Polisario in 1991. |
| Rabat considers the vast, mineral-rich desert region its ‘southern provinces’ and rejects challenges to its territorial integrity. | Rabat considers the vast, mineral-rich desert region its ‘southern provinces’ and rejects challenges to its territorial integrity. |
| If you like this story, share it with a friend! | If you like this story, share it with a friend! |
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