Chahid El Hafed (Sahrawi Republic) 1 February 2025 (SPS)– The Sahrawi Natural Resources Watch (OSRN in its Spanish abbreviation) welcomed the European Union Council’s formal acknowledgment of the EU Court of Justice’s (CJEU) decision to annul the EU-Morocco Trade and Fisheries Agreements, which included the occupied territories of Western Sahara.
In a Press Release issued Today, The Sahrawi resources Watch hailed the EUC decision as a "critical validation of international law and a strong endorsement of the Sahrawi people’s right to self-determination."
The decision, it said, "unambiguously confirms that all economic activities involving Western Sahara’s resources must be contingent upon the explicit consent of the Sahrawi people, represented by the Sahrawi liberation movement, Polisario Front, and not through agreements negotiated with Morocco, the occupying power."
The CJEU ruling makes it clear that any economic activity in Western Sahara must have the explicit consent of the Sahrawi people, represented by the Polisario Front.
"Regrettably, despite this clear judicial mandate, European institutions and private actors persist in enabling Morocco’s illegal exploitation of the Sahrawi natural resources in the occupied part of Western Sahara," OSRN emphasized.
It further noted that "industries such as fisheries, agriculture, and renewable energy remain marred by persistent breaches of international law, eroding respect for legal accountability and directly undermining the United Nations’ efforts to foster a peaceful resolution to the conflict."
The Sahrawi organization called on the European Commission, EU institutions, and Member States, urging them to comply with the CJEU ruling by halting any agreements or activities involving Western Sahara that lack the consent of its legitimate representative, Polisario Front.
On another hand, OSRN also called on the private sector actors demanding an end to their involvement in resource extraction and exploitation from the occupied territory.
And finally, the Press release calls on the international community, for concrete actions to uphold international law and support the Sahrawi people’s legitimate aspirations for decolonization and self-determination.
“The Sahrawi people remain steadfast in their commitment to defending their inalienable rights. It is now incumbent upon the European Union and its institutions to align their policies with international legal standards and end their complicity in the exploitation of an occupied land,” OSRN stated.
The OSRN reaffirmed its commitment to advocating for the protection of Sahrawi natural resources and ensuring that international legal norms are upheld in Western Sahara.
The pressure is now on European governments and corporations to respect the legal precedent set by the CJEU and cease their engagement with Morocco’s unlawful resource extraction activities in the region. (SPS)
090/500/60 (SPS)
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