A large coalition of European and Western Sahara groups asks the European Parliament not to pay Morocco to fish in the waters it occupies. 16.189 individuals have joined the letter, including thousands of refugees from Western Sahara.
“We request the EU to work within the framework of international peace, and to support the UN’s efforts to negotiate a solution to the conflict. The Saharawi people have the right to be heard. No further EU fisheries operations should take place in Western Sahara until a peaceful solution to the conflict has been found”, states the letter directed to the European Parliament today.
Download the complete letter here, together with a list of the organisations that signed.
The letter will today be sent to the political parties of the European Union, asking them to not accept a fisheries agreement with Morocco covering the waters of occupied Western Sahara.
267 organisations and 16.189 individuals are among the signatories. Among the signatories are organisations such as political parties, environmental groups (e.g. Greenpeace International), and trade unions.
Half of the individuals signed over the course of this week: Most of those are refugees that have left Western Sahara as the territory was invaded territory by Morocco. See examples of these signature leaflets below. These refugees receive fish donated as humanitarian aid once a month. The vote on 10 December will consider whether the occupying power Morocco will be paid 160 million Euros for European access to the fish that these Saharawis own.
Some supporters of the fish deal claim that a fisheries accord between Morocco and the EU is to the Saharawis own interest. However, all known Saharawi groups have joined this request to the European Parliament stating it is not.
One of the richest coastlines in the world
The fish stocks of occupied Western Sahara have not only attracted the interest of the Moroccan fleet: other foreign interests are also fishing in the occupied waters through arrangements with Moroccan counterparts. Along the Western Saharan coastline, a processing industry has emerged.
The CJEU Court Cases
Keeping track of the many legal proceedings relating to Western Sahara is not easy. This page offers an overview of the cases concerning the territory that have been before the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU).
Tūhana human rights advisors ignore human rights
A consultancy hired to assess phosphate imports from occupied Western Sahara into New Zealand concludes there is no problem.
MEPs push back on Commission over Western Sahara in EU–Morocco trade
MEPs from across the political spectrum sharply criticised the European Commission over its handling of EU-Morocco trade relations covering occupied Western Sahara, raising concerns over legality, transparency and an apparent disregard for Parliament’s role.