The story below appeared in the Danish national newspaper Politiken today. In addition today, UK, Sweden and Finland have so far stated this week that they do not wish to prolong the fisheries in Western Sahara. Sweden has maintained since 2006 that EU fisheries in Western Sahara is in violation of international law, just as the former UN legal counsel, and the European Parliament's legal service have.



Translated from Danish by Western Sahara Resource Watch.

EU support for occupation power could continue
Politiken/Ritzau
11 February 2011

Morocco exploits the occupied Western Sahara to gain millions from the EU. Now, the EU wants to prolong its controversial fisheries agreement.

The EU's controversial fisheries agreement with Morocco will be temporarily extended for one year. This has the European Commission announced shortly before the current contract expires at the end of February.

The Fisheries Agreement has been much criticized because it gives European fishermen access to fish in waters off Western Sahara, which has been occupied by Morocco since 1975.

In return, Morocco has over the past four years cashed in more than one billion Danish kroners on the agreement. And provisionally, there is no evidence that the large amount of money has had the "regional impact", which Morocco has promised the EU. Including support for the people of Western Sahara.

Denmark opposes
Therefore, Denmark does not support the EU Commission's proposal for an extension.

"A one-year extension is all too long," said Danish Food Minister Henrik Hoegh (liberal party).

At a meeting in the the Danish Parliament’s Committee on European Affairs, the minister was given the mandate to – at maximum - support an extension of the agreement of six months. Thereafter, we wants to see evidence that the agreement benefits the Western Sahara, if there is to make a new fishing agreement with Morocco.

"We have to put more pressure on the EU and Moroccan authorities. We must have a statement which documents that this is also good for development of Western Sahara. And it must happen as quickly as possible, "said Henrik Hoegh.


“The proposals from the European Commission comes as the widespread demonstrations in North Africa where people are fighting for more democracy. Therefore it is completely unacceptable that the EU will continue to support an undemocratic occupation power,” said Søren Sondergaard, Member of the People's Movement against the EU [and Member of European parliament, WSRW notes].

“The EU is rewarding Morocco to procrastinate, and it's completely the wrong signal. We should put Morocco back against the wall, by stopping the agreement and make it clear that they will not accept the occupation and exploitation of another country's natural resources,” said Sondergaard.