Despite ECJ ruling, EU countries reaffirm ties with Morocco and commitment to Sahara declaration

France, Belgium and Spain reiterated their support for the ongoing political and economic relationship with Morocco. The various statements from the three countries came in the wake of the recent ECJ ruling, which questioned the legality of trade and fisheries agreements between the EU and Morocco that include products from the disputed Western Sahara region. The French Foreign Ministry emphasized that while it is not France’s role to comment on court decisions it however, reaffirmed “its unwavering commitment to its exceptional partnership with Morocco and expressed its determination to strengthen this relationship further.” Similarly, Spain’s Foreign Minister, Jose Manuel Albares, addressed the Spanish Congress, where he emphasized Spain’s unchanged position on Western Sahara, reaffirming its support for Morocco’s autonomy plan for the region.