News
On 20 February, the EU Commission briefed the Parliament on the negotiations with Morocco to secure Western Sahara trade flows, and the EU External Action Service (EEAS) provided an update on a so-called consultation process. But why is there a consultation process? And with who is the EEAS talking?
Published 27 February 2018
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At 11:45 today, Saharawi refugees are celebrating that the Court of Justice has ruled that EU cannot continue fishing offshore Western Sahara in partnership with the country that occupied their homeland. 
 

Published 27 February 2018
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The EU Court this morning issued a ruling stating that the EU-Morocco Fisheries Partnership Agreement is only valid if it does not apply to the waters of Western Sahara.

Published 27 February 2018
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The High Court of South Africa today confirmed that the owner of the cargo of phosphate rock aboard the detained vessel, NM Cherry Blossom, is the Saharawi Government, and not Morocco's state-owned phosphate company which was not entitled to sell the commodity. Major victory for the Saharawis in an African Court.

Published 23 February 2018
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The European Parliament has voted to rein in toxic fertilizers that are high in carcinogene heavy metals. Morocco stands to lose a major market for its high in cadmium fertilizer products, which it exports also from occupied Western Sahara.

Published 23 February 2018
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The company which certified a Moroccan energy project in occupied Western Sahara has rectified a report it submitted to UN Global Compact in which it erroneously claimed that the UN body had approved of its operation.
Published 21 February 2018

The European Commission will today brief the Parliament's International Trade Committee. The Western Sahara intergroup of the Parliament expressed today its deep concern of the Commission's approach.

Published 20 February 2018
All EU Member States agreed to grant the EU Commission a mandate to open negotiations with Morocco for a change to the protocols to the EU-Morocco Association Agreement, allowing for trade with Western Sahara to continue within that framework. This came on the back of a ruling by the EU Court of Justice in December 2016, concluding that no EU-Morocco trade or association deal could be applied to Western Sahara unless with the explicit consent of the people of the territory.

Sweden was the only EU Member State to issue a critical statement with regard to the granting of the negotiation mandate. Read that statement below.
Published 16 February 2018
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"Sweden considers that the proposed mandate does not meet the requirements of international law", the official government statement reads.

Published 15 February 2018
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Is Kosmos Energy undertaking a last survey on the Boujdour Maritime licence before it waves goodbye to occupied Western Sahara? Or has an unknown company taken over the licence? Last week, seabed petroleum surveys started at the place where Kosmos drilled in 2014.

Published 08 February 2018
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17 years of US private company engagement in exploring the oil potential of Western Sahara has come to an end.

Published 07 February 2018

The EU's foreign affairs department has invited WSRW to take part in a consultation process regarding EU-Morocco trade talks covering Western Sahara. Though in principle always open to dialogue, WSRW had to decline.

Published 07 February 2018
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The European Commission has failed to obtain consent from the Saharawi representatives before deciding to include Western Sahara in trade deal with Morocco. In a statement today, 89 organisations in and from Western Sahara condemn the EU Commission for its sham consultations.

Published 03 February 2018
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Why did you not seek permission from my people?, a Saharawi refugee asked at Siemens AGM. Company fails to answer questions why it operates on occupied land.

Published 02 February 2018
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The European Commission and Morocco yesterday initialed an agreement covering trade in goods originating in Western Sahara without the consent of the people from the territory, contrary to the orders of the EU Court of Justice.

Published 01 February 2018
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The national liberation movement of Western Sahara threatens to claim 240 million Euro in compensation of the EU's illegal fisheries in occupied Western Sahara and sends a warning to importers of goods from the territory to halt their imports.

Published 31 January 2018
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The company that certified energy infrastructure in occupied Western Sahara, claims that a UN body had found the company not to breach human rights.

Published 31 January 2018
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Canadian company Nutrien announced last week that its multi-million dollar imports of conflict minerals to Vancouver is stopping. Nutrien is now reconsidering what to do with its "PotashCorp" imports to the US.

Published 29 January 2018
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Two important members of the S&D group in the European Parliament this week expressed strong criticism of the Commission’s approach to EU-Morocco trade negotiations in relation to Western Sahara. This might reflect a significant shift ongoing in positions in the Europarliament.
 

Published 27 January 2018
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The final assets that Glencore held in oil exploration in occupied Western Sahara have been sold.

Published 23 January 2018