Members of the European Parliament’s Committee on International Trade questioned the European Commission on Monday 25 October over the annulment by the General Court of the European Union of two agreements between the EU and Morocco (see EUROPE 12801/23).
At the end of September, the General Court found that the EU and Morocco had not consulted the separatists of Polisario Front before concluding two agreements on trade and fisheries that impacted the territory of Western Sahara. It therefore annulled the two agreements in question, but nevertheless maintained their effects for two months or for the entire period required for an appeal if one were to be lodged.
Several MEPs on the left of the Chamber wanted to know how the European Commission had engaged with the Polisario Front at the time of the negotiations, why it had failed to obtain its consent, and what it intended to do in respect of this in the future.
“We could engage in formal consultations with the Polisario Front with a view to obtaining consent. Is the Commission actually talking to the Polisario Front?”, asked Kathleen Van Brempt (S&D, Belgium).
She went on to express her disappointment at the information provided by the Commission, which “does not include the first step towards a possible solution”. “And this frightens me”, she said. Equally, most of her colleagues also believe that good trade relations with Morocco should be maintained, while finding ways to comply with the General Court’s decision.
During the discussion, the majority of MEPs who were present supported the idea of an appeal against the decision of the General Court. However, in the opinion of Jérémy Decerle (Renew Europe, France), and for others, it will be necessary to “ anticipate the consequences of a less optimistic scenario” and to give visibility to economic actors.
MEPs from all sides urged the European Commission to provide answers on how to follow up on the two judgments of the General Court. (Original version in French by Léa Marchal)