A Resolution passed in the EU Parliament today backs the EU's Trade for Change policy vis-à-vis its southern neighbours, but turns a blind eye to the singular obstacle to peace and development in the region: Morocco's continued brutal occupation of Western Sahara.
Today, the European Parliament supported a Resolution that calls on the EU to help consolidate democracy and promote stability in Southern Mediterranean countries through increased trade. The Parliament’s support for the European Commission’s “trade for change” plans will strenghten the latter’s negotiating position vis-à-vis countries it wishes to assist in their process to transform into free market democracies, following their handling of the Arab Spring.
The Resolution is based on the premise that increased trade opportunities will result in the promotion of democracy and human rights.
Yet, the text does spill a drop of ink on Western Sahara - a lingering conflict which does not only hinder any kind of cooperation on Maghreb level, but may even destabilize the entire region even further if left unaddressed. While the United Nations have been trying to broker a lasting and just solution based on the right to self-determination of the people of Western Sahara, the EU is has adopted an approach whereby it turns a blind eye to Morocco applying its bilateral agreements with the Union to the territory it holds under military occupation. As a result, Morocco is making a profit through EU cooperation on a territory, and its resources, over which it does not hold any legal title.
The Parliament's new Resolution does however refer to the envisioned Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (DCFTA) with Morocco, one of the first concrete steps stemming from the "trade for change" policy. Though still in the early stages, an eventual DCFTA is expected to emulate other bitlateral agreements with Morocco in terms of its geographical scope. As such, the deal will be applied to the occupied part of Western Sahara.
"This risks complicating the already harduous peace-process even further", says Sara Eyckmans of WSRW. "The DCFTA is geared towards the gradual integration of Morocco’s economy into the EU’s internal market. If done without clearly excluding Western Sahara, this process will open all sorts of economic opportunities in the occupied territory, further entrenching the occupation.”
The European Commission is currently assessing the political will of Morocco to engage in DCFTA negotiations. The content of the Commission’s mandate has not been made public, but topics for discussion are expected to include enhanced liberalisation of trade in agriculture, services, fisheries and manufactured goods, investment protection and opening of public procurement to European companies.
Depending on the outcome of this scoping exercise, steps will be taken to engage in official negotiations. These are not expected to take place for at least another 6 months.
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