On Wednesday 7 December, the Polisario Front sent a letter to High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini, asking her to take the necessary measures immediately against Morocco's use of European financing, "in violation of EU law", for the "illegal" exploration and exploitation of Western Sahara resources.
The Polisario Front's representative to the EU, Mohamed Sidati, criticises the fisheries agreement. "Morocco receives €14 million annually" for its fisheries sector, from which it has "dedicated around 60% (...) to the occupied territories of the Western Sahara, mainly the coastal towns of Dakhla and El Ayoune". Furthermore, Sidati says in his letter to Mogherini that "energy is generated – without the consent of its people – and exported to Morocco". He asserts that "significant energy contracts" have been signed with "EU companies such as Siemens". In Sidati's view, "the involvement of the EU and European companies in the pillaging of the Western Sahara's natural resources strengthens the occupation".
In support of his arguments, Sidati cites the ruling of the EU General Court in December 2015, which annulled the EU-Morocco agricultural agreement when applied to this territory over which Morocco exercises sovereignty. The EU Council and European Commission, for their part, appealed against this ruling (see EUROPE 11623) and adopted a contrasting position to the conclusions of the advocate general on certain points (13 September). The final ruling (C-104/13P) will be handed down on 21 December. (Original version in French by Fathi B’Chir)