Martyr Al-Hafiz (Sahrawi refugee camps), June 21, 2026 (SPA)The Sahrawi Observatory for Monitoring Natural Resources and Environmental Protection expressed, on Saturday, its concern over reports that the European Commission is seeking to include agricultural products coming from occupied Western Sahara in trade arrangements with the Kingdom of Morocco, considering that this step contradicts the rulings issued by the Court of Justice of the European Union.
The Observatory explained, in a statement issued today, that this initiative, which is being pushed under the leadership of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, lacks the necessary transparency and institutional oversight, and ignores the separate and distinct legal status of Western Sahara as confirmed by the European Court of Justice.
The Observatory recalled that the European Union Court of Justice confirmed in its rulings issued in 2016, 2018 and 2021, and reiterated in its final rulings in 2024, that any agreement between the European Union and Morocco cannot include the territory of Western Sahara or its natural resources except with the approval of the Sahrawi people, represented by the Polisario Front.
The Observatory indicated that the inclusion of products originating from occupied Western Sahara in the trade arrangements between the European Union and Morocco constitutes a violation of European and international law, and contributes to facilitating the exploitation of the region’s resources without the consent of its people.
The Observatory called on the European Union institutions to fully implement the rulings of the European Court of Justice, and to put an end to any policies or arrangements aimed at normalizing the exploitation of natural resources in the occupied Western Sahara.
He also stressed that any attempt to circumvent international law or judicial decisions will not change the legal status of Western Sahara, and will not grant legitimacy to the exploitation of its natural resources.
The Observatory reiterated that Western Sahara is not part of Morocco, and that its natural resources belong exclusively to the Sahrawi people. (Was)
090/500/60 (Was)
