Brussels, 27/03/2015 (Agence Europe) - The Western Sahara is a non-self governing territory, managed by third countries, and Morocco is its de facto administrator. It would therefore be appropriate, “in line with the UN 2002 legal opinion”, to allow oil exploration there.
This assertion was made by High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini, who was replying on 17 March to a written question from Jytte Guteland MEP (S&D, Sweden) in December 2014.
Guteland pointed out that Morocco had allowed a US oil company, in partnership with an un-named Scottish company, to proceed with drilling in an area recognised internationally as being the Western Sahara. These “southern provinces”, as Morocco calls them, form a territory which is the subject of a dispute that is constantly debated at the United Nations. Mogherini thus argues that, according to the UN opinion, in a territory “administered” by a foreign power, this power can conduct activities in “exploitation of its resources” “for the benefit of the peoples of those territories, on their behalf or in consultation with their representatives” - which she would believe to be the case.
The EU “is closely following developments”, Mogerhini states in her reply of 17 March to another question posed by Fabio Massimo Castaldo MEP (EFDD, Italy) and Ignazio Corrao (EFDD, Italy). It does not intend to depart from its traditionally cautious and fairly discreet attitude on this issue. Mogherini states that the EU “supports the UN Secretary-General's efforts to achieve a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution, which will provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara in the context of arrangements consistent with the principles and purposes of the Charter of the UN”. The EU “encourages the parties to seek a negotiated solution to the conflict and welcomes the efforts” of the UN. Mogherini also states that the EU has also expressed support to the UN in its requirement for respect of human rights in the Sahara and the Tindouf camps, where it finances part of the humanitarian aid. The Western Sahara is one of the points raised “regularly” as part of the “regular political dialogue” with Rabat. The EU is cautious, but it is one of its member states - Spain, the former colonial power in this territory - that is one of the most pressing actors in this issue. (Fathi B'Chir)