The Polisario Front (Western Sahara) has sent the European Parliament's fisheries committee a letter, officially dated 27 February. In it, the Polsiario Front "urges the EU to immediately suspend the payment of the financial contribution" under the fisheries protocol between the EU and Morocco. This protocol sets out the activity of the EU fleet (mainly Spanish). The Polisario Front's demand is also aimed at all the financial support linked to helping the sector, especially in relation to the Halieutis plan (see EUROPE 11726).
The Polisario Front states that immediately after the ruling on the agricultural agreement (case C-104/16 P) (see EUROPE 11694) it had proposed suspending the complaint that was underway in the European justice system (T-180/14) (see EUROPE 11106). The Polisario Front also threatens "to pursue its action" with "serious consequences for the European economic actors involved" – but it does not give any further details. It is maintaining another complaint lodged in May 2014 with the General Court – the handling of which was suspended while the complaint on the agricultural agreement with Morocco was ongoing (the result of which is now known). The impact of this latter complaint is reportedly direct and could make it pointless pursuing the first case. There is thus a de facto suspension. The Court is itself tempted to link the ruling of last December to the ruling which is pending, and to wait for the legal basis to be clarified. The link would not be obvious for everyone and is among the subjects currently being examined by Moroccan and European lawyers.
In its letter, the Polisario Front also demands that EU vessels "immediately suspend their fishing activities until an agreement has been reached between the EU and the Sahrawi people" according to the principle of self-determination.
Presenting itself as the representative of the "Sahrawi people", the Polisario Front says it is in favour of territorial development on condition that the law is upheld. It also warns the European Commission that it should stop amending the 2013 protocol (currently being discussed with Morocco) "in a manner incompatible with the separate and distinct status of Western Sahara" – and it refers to the Court ruling in support of its claims. (Original version in French by Fathi B’Chir)