Swedish Minister of agriculture, Mr. Eskil Erlandsson wants the Commission to put all its cards on the table regarding the EU’s fisheries offshore occupied Western Sahara.
By Arto Valtonen,
Tidskriften Västsahara (Sweden)
“The question about whether the Sahrawis benefit from the agreement is not sufficiently clarified”, stated the Swedish Minister of agriculture, Mr. Eskil Erlandsson.
If the Commission cannot prove that the agreement is according to the Sahrawis’ wishes and interests, Erlandsson will personally raise the issue with the Commission. He said that the fisheries cooperation is going to be influenced by the legal opinion.
For the agreement to be in accordance with international law, the Sahrawis must have given their consent to it, and the benefits from the fisheries must accrue to them.
”The opinion is an important basis for the continued discussions with Morocco”, stated Erlandsson.
One can sense a certain irritation between the lines in Mr. Erlandsson’s statement. The Swedish Minister of agriculture has had no information about the legal opinion, despite the fact that it was made already on 13 July 2009.
”I have not known about this opinion, which was requested by the EU parliament until it was made public the other day by, what I understand, is a voluntary organisation”, he said.
Considering that Sweden chaired the EU’s presidency while the opinion was made, sources in the Ministry said it is “strange” that the opinion was shared neither with the Swedish delegation in Brussels, nor with the Minister of agriculture.
Translated to English by Western Sahara Resource Watch.
New report: Certified occupation
International certification standards embellish Morocco’s controversial trade with fisheries and agricultural products in occupied Western Sahara, new report documents.
Certification giant SGS points fingers elsewhere
SGS blames everyone else for mistakes on MarinTrust certificates it had issued to Moroccan companies in occupied Western Sahara.
New report: Greenwashing Occupation
Out now: WSRW today publishes a new report outlining the massive - and deeply problematic - renewable energy projects that Morocco is developing in occupied Western Sahara.
GMP+ does not check if “sustainable” fish is legally caught
The world’s largest certification scheme for “safe and sustainable animal feed” does not check whether its certified fish feed companies source from illegal fisheries in occupied Western Sahara, where catches violate the Saharawi people’s right to self-determination.