Occupied Sahara: EU undermining Human Rights on Human Rights Day
Article image
Today, the European Parliament decided to back up the EU-Morocco fisheries agreement, opening for fishing in the waters of Western Sahara, a territory of which large parts have been occupied by Morocco since 1975. "A sad day for international peace and human rights" states WSRW. The deal was inked on the 1 year anniversary of the Nobel Peace Prize - and on the International Day of Human Rights.
Published 10 December 2013


Photo above: Saharawis demonstrate against EU plans to fish in Western Sahara, 7 Dec 2013. More than 20 injured.

"Today's decision by the European Parliament flies in the face of the people of Western Sahara. The Saharawi have under international law the right to be heard on economic activities taking place in their land under occupation. The EU has today neglected those rights. All EU's rethorics of Human Rights Day today proves to be shallow", states Erik Hagen, chair of Western Sahara Resource Watch (WSRW).

204 parliamentarians voted against the agreement, while 310 voted for. 49 abstained.

The owners of the stocks are either living under brutal Morocan occupation, or in refugee camps in Algeria. More than 100 UN resolutions call for their right to self-determination. No state recognise Morocco's claims to Western Sahara.

Last weekend, a Saharawi demonstration in the capital of Western Sahara, protesting the EU’s plans to fish in occupied waters, was violently dispersed by the Moroccan police. More than 20 were injured. The situation is growing ever more tense, as more and more Saharawis are increasingly frustrated with the EU’s consistency in choosing Morocco as a partner for business in their land, while turning a blind eye on the gross and systematic human rights violations that Morocco perpetrates in the territory.

Instead Morocco will be paid for 40 million € per year in exchange for access to non-Moroccan waters.

Apart from violating international law and disrespecting a people’s fundamental right to self-determiantion, the protocol is also bad business for the fish stocks in the area. A Greenpeace report, urged the EU not to approve, of environmental concerns.

EU pushes secretive Morocco trade deal covering Western Sahara

As EU ambassadors give their green light to a new Morocco trade deal, the public is still denied access to the very agreement they are voting on - a striking case of secrecy in Brussels.

01 October 2025

"A declaration of war" - new EU agreement reactions

A wave of reactions is rippling across Europe following the news that the EU is moving ahead with a new trade agreement in occupied Western Sahara. The vote is scheduled for tomorrow.

30 September 2025

Commission Pushes EU-Morocco Trade Deal, Ignoring Democratic Processes and Saharawi Rights

WSRW can today reveal a leaked EU document showing plans to continue trading with products from occupied Western Sahara, in direct violation of earlier rulings by the EU Court of Justice. A vote will take place this Wednesday. 

29 September 2025

Morocco’s thirst for water quenched by Western Sahara winds

Water pouring out of Moroccan faucets is soon powered by energy stolen from occupied Western Sahara.

18 September 2025