About: Western Sahara
Between legality and reality: Mediterranean lessons for EU external action
The reaction to the European Court of Justice’s latest ruling on Western Sahara shows the Union can keep calm and carry on if it focuses on what it is able to achieve instead of aiming outside of its purview, writes Elena Valenciano.
Western Sahara: EU Court annuls trade and fishery deals with Morocco
The General Court of the EU annulled on Wednesday (29 September) two agreements between the EU and Morocco that applied to Western Sahara, a territory occupied by Morocco. The court ruled in favour of the Polisario Front, which had filed...
Will the European Court derail the EU’s good relations with Morocco?
EU relations with Morocco have improved in recent years. Will they be derailed by a European court ruling later this week, asks James Moran.
EU relations in north Africa hampered by migration tensions
The EU’s role and political influence in North Africa has been hampered by economic and security policy priorities being trumped by the bloc’s desire to control migration flows.
Morocco the apparent winner after migrant skirmish with Spain
Morocco appears to have triumphed in its diplomatic joust with Spain two weeks after opening its borders for thousands of migrants to cross into the Spanish enclave of Cuelta.
Morocco, Spain trade accusations of violating good ‘neighbourliness’
Morocco and Spain traded new accusations on Monday (31 May) in a diplomatic row triggered by the Western Sahara territorial issue that led this month to a migration crisis in Spain's enclave in northern Morocco.
At EU summit, Spain warns of ‘unprecedented crisis with Morocco’
Spain sent a clear message to Morocco Monday (24 May), insisting on respect for its shared borders a week after over 8,000 migrants entered its Ceuta enclave, with 1,000 minors still there.
Record 5,000 migrants reach Spain’s Ceuta enclave in one day
At least 5,000 migrants, about a thousand of them minors, reached Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta on Monday (17 May) from neighbouring Morocco, Spanish officials said, a record in a single day. A spokesman for the Spanish government delegation...
Polisario suffers setback as EU Parliament group leader resigns over ceasefire
The campaign for Western Saharan independence has suffered another diplomatic blow after the head of the European Parliament’s group on Western Sahara resigned, accusing the pro-independence Frente Polisario of committing ‘a serious strategic error’ by ending a 30-year ceasefire with Morocco.
Morocco looks forward to ‘big prize’ for normalising ties with Israel
Morocco’s decision to normalise ties with Israel has handed Rabat its biggest step yet towards the prize it values most - global recognition of its claim to Western Sahara.
Borrell urges return to talks following renewed Western Sahara tensions
The Polisario Front said Sunday (15 November) it was mobilising "thousands of volunteers" to join its fighters, on the third day of a crisis in the disputed Western Sahara that pits the Sahrawis against Morocco.
Slovakia’s Lajcak tipped to be next UN envoy for Western Sahara
Slovak Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajcak, who once served as the president of the UN General Assembly, is expected to be named the world body's new special envoy for disputed Western Sahara, diplomats said Wednesday (12 February).
Morocco moves closer to ‘privileged’ partnership with EU
Morocco has moved closer to its goal of obtaining a ‘privileged relationship with the EU’ following successful talks between foreign minister Nasser Bourita and the EU’s foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini.
MEPs stir north Africa’s frozen conflict
European Parliament endorsed the new EU-Morocco Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement on 12 February. Although it's a triumph for Morocco and its lobbying efforts in Brussels, it is unlikely to do anything to resolve a long-running legal and political saga in North Africa.
Morocco pushes development in disputed Western Sahara
Building roads and expanding cities, ports and industrial parks -- Morocco is pressing ahead with economic development in Western Sahara without waiting for a political settlement on the disputed territory.
Is it ‘the economy, stupid’ in the EU’s southern neighbourhood?
While trade wars threaten across the Atlantic, enhanced economic cooperation could be the key to stability in the EU’s southern neighbourhood.
EU dilemma on Morocco-Western Sahara conflict remains unsolved
Morocco is the EU’s most stable trading partner in North Africa and a reliable ally in Brussels’ efforts to control African migration across the Mediterranean. But two rulings by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) have revived political tensions in the region and complicated things for the Commission.
Court in confusion – the EU and Western Sahara
Few were surprised when the European Court of Justice ruled on 27 February that the EU’s fisheries agreement with Morocco is valid, but only if it does not include the disputed Western Sahara territory.
Morocco fisheries pact must not include Western Sahara, EU court confirms
The EU’s fisheries agreement with Morocco is valid as long as it does not include the Western Sahara territory, a region disputed by Morocco and independence fighters, the bloc’s top court, the European Court of Justice, ruled on Tuesday (27 February).
Fisheries agreement with Morocco is an instrument of soft power for EU
If the EU-Morocco fisheries agreement is not renewed, tensions might affect the relations between the EU and Morocco, writes Willy Fautré.
Western Sahara should be able to negotiate a fisheries partnership agreement with the EU
Morrocco has no official claim to the waters off Western Sahara, so why, Linnéa Engström asks, should the EU pay Rabat for the right to fish there?
Morocco demands ‘clear signal’ from EU on future relations
A Moroccan minister has warned the European Union that it must “clarify its position” and put an end to its conflicting positions regarding the North African country or face the consequences for both migration and the economy. Euractiv Spain reports.
Morocco warns EU to respect trade deal
Morocco's government warned the European Union today (6 February) that its failure to fully implement a joint agriculture deal would have severe consequences and could spur illegal migration.