Vitoria-Gasteiz (Basque Country) 28 February 2025 (SPS)- The Basque Parliament, through its intergroup supporting Western Sahara, approved a declaration on Thursday reaffirming that Morocco's occupation of Western Sahara is “illegal” and advocating for the “right to self-determination” of the Sahrawi people.
The statement was supported by PNV, EH Bildu, PP, and Sumar, while the PSE-EE abstained, arguing that they “do not agree with the content”, in yet another demonstration of treason to Spain’s legal, political and historical responsibility towards the Sahrawi people.
The declaration coincides with the forty-ninth anniversary of the proclamation of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic and highlights that Western Sahara is “a non-self-governing territory subject to international law.”
It states that Morocco’s occupation is “illegal” and calls for a self-determination referendum. Furthermore, it emphasizes that the Polisario Front is “the sole and legitimate representative of the Sahrawi people, as recognized by the UN and the international community.”
The Parliament has also demanded “strict respect for human rights in the occupied territories” and an end to “the violations of rights suffered by the Sahrawis.”
During the session, the chamber denounced the “plundering” of natural resources in the region and urged full compliance with the recent European Court of Justice ruling of October 4, 2024, which annulled agricultural and fishing agreements between the European Union and Morocco.
Additionally, the parliamentary intergroup expressed concern over “the serious humanitarian situation” in Sahrawi refugee camps.
In this context, it urged Basque institutions to maintain and strengthen their humanitarian and solidarity support for both the refugee population in Tindouf and the Sahrawis living in occupied territories.
The Parliament also expressed gratitude for the work of associations and solidarity groups advocating for the Sahrawi cause and acknowledged the importance of Basque families participating in the 'Holidays in Peace' program for hosting Sahrawi children.
During the session, the chamber displayed a Sahrawi flag as a gesture of support. Meanwhile, the PSE-EE justified its abstention, stating that it had taken a similar stance in previous cases and, while not supporting the declaration’s content, did not want to hinder its processing. Vox is not part of the intergroup and, therefore, did not participate in the vote.
With this declaration, the Basque Parliament reiterates its historic commitment to the Sahrawi cause and its defense of international law concerning the Western Sahara conflict.
The resolution also calls on the United Nations to “promote without further delay a fair and definitive solution to the conflict,” reiterating that the process must culminate in a self-determination referendum for the Sahrawi people. (SPS)
090/500/60 (SPS)
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