On October 4th, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) issued a ruling that definitively annulled two trade agreements between Morocco and the European Union. This decision could have significant economic repercussions for Morocco and political and diplomatic implications for the trajectory of the Sahrawi issue.
The Court asserted that Morocco cannot claim sovereignty over the occupied territory and mandated that all trade and fishing agreements between the European Union and Morocco must cease immediately. Furthermore, it recognized the Polisario Front as the legitimate representative of the Sahrawi people, thereby granting it the right to contest these agreements. Consequently, Morocco loses the legal support it previously relied upon to exploit the resources of Western Sahara, leaving it in a precarious position on the international stage.
Political Repercussions
Analysts believe that the ruling concerning Western Sahara, which annulled two agreements related to agriculture and fishing between the European Union and Morocco, marks a significant judicial victory for the Polisario Front in its conflict with Morocco. This decision has resonated deeply within political circles monitoring the Sahrawi issue. Some have described this judgment as a “major turning point” in the Western Sahara conflict.
Diplomatic Consequences
This decision signifies a pivotal moment in the Sahrawi people’s struggle against Moroccan occupation, placing them in a challenging political and diplomatic position. It will also provide additional momentum to the diplomatic efforts of the Polisario Front and its supporters worldwide, particularly in Europe. The ruling enables the Polisario Front to pursue legal actions against any attempts to exploit Sahrawi natural resources without its permission, presenting a setback for France and Spain, which have historically supported Morocco in its policy towards Western Sahara, thus putting them at odds with international law.
Economic Losses
The economic ramifications of this decision are equally severe as its political and diplomatic implications. Observers contend that, through this ruling, the Sahrawi people have successfully shifted the battle against Morocco from the political arena to the economic domain. Historically, Morocco has exploited numerous agreements to the detriment of the Sahrawi people to silence Europeans and secure the loyalty of politicians in EU member states, marking a “historic turning point” for the Sahrawi cause by reaffirming their right to self-determination and ending the exploitation of their resources.
Forecasts suggest that Morocco could face approximately 50 million euros in direct losses annually in the fishing sector alone. Additionally, the value of the European Union’s imports of agricultural products from Western Sahara reached 77.5 million euros in 2021. Revenues from the fishing and agriculture sectors, along with phosphates, constitute the backbone of the Moroccan economy, accounting for 30% of the workforce in the occupied area, according to a European Union study. This study predicts that the economy will be severely impacted, noting that “these sectors involve many stakeholders, including small local businesses that depend on the European market.”
In addition to its local implications, there will be consequences for foreign actors, as the future of their operations in the region may become uncertain—regardless of whether the insurance companies involved are European. This uncertainty arises from the fact that they operate within a global economy governed by ethical standards such as accountability; violations of these standards could result in businesses being excluded from social markets.
The ruling of the Court of Justice of the European Union concerning Western Sahara represents a significant decision from a respected legal institution, affirming that the Sahrawi people hold exclusive rights to their territory and maritime waters. This development may have repercussions for the United Nations Security Council, which is scheduled to review the issue of Western Sahara today.
