Your Excellencies,

We write to you as representatives of Saharawi civil society in response to recent EU attempts to amend its trade agreement with Morocco underpinned by the illegal exploitation of natural resources of Western Sahara, and to dispel the myth that this exploitation benefits the local Saharawi population. This process has taken place entirely in the absence of any consultation with Saharawi voices. As representatives of Saharawi civil society organizations based in the occupied Territory of Western Sahara and the refugee camps in the Southwest Algerian desert, we call on the EU to cease all trade talks with the occupying power, Morocco, regarding resources and trade in Western Sahara.

On 21 December 2016, the European Court of Justice joined the ranks of the ICJ, the United Nations and the African Union in upholding the long-standing and unequivocal position that Morocco has no sovereignty over Western Sahara. The ECJ determined that the Saharawi people have an inalienable right to self-determination. And crucially, it confirmed our right to protect and preserve our interests in the natural resources of our territory and waters. That decision reaffirmed that any agreement pertaining to Western Sahara’s natural resources requires the consent of the Saharawi people, who are represented by the Front POLISARIO, as General Assembly Resolution 34/37 established in 1979.

Against this background, it is appalling that the EU is now seeking to identify ways to bypass the ruling of its very own court. Our organizations have been on the ground throughout the conflict, we have seen first-hand that the illegal exploitation of our natural resources solely benefits Morocco; which occupies part of our land and commits human rights violations against our people. The facts on the ground are clear regardless of any commitments that you may receive from the Moroccan state. For example, in partnership with energy companies, including European firms such as Siemens and Enel, the Moroccan royal family has generated an estimated €143.4 million from the illegal exploitation of Western Sahara’s natural resources. The Saharawi people have not benefited at all monetarily from this trade or from funds “reinvested” into the Territory.

The Moroccan state-owned phosphate giant OCP, promised the creation of jobs in its mining operation in Western Sahara. These positions, however, overwhelmingly go to Moroccan settlers, whose presence in occupied Western Sahara is heavily subsidized and supported by the Moroccan State. Jobs are largely unavailable to Saharawis, who are oppressed, denied opportunities, and treated as second class citizens in our own land.

These are only a handful of examples of how the illegal exploitation of the Western Sahara only benefits Morocco and further entrenches Rabat’s illegal occupation of Saharawi territory. Enabling further exploitation by seeking to circumvent the ECJ’s ruling directly challenges the credibility of the EU, and significantly damages the potential for progress through the UN-led negotiation process, which is the appropriate framework through which to resolve the issue of natural resources. Many EU Member States vigorously support the political process under the auspices of the UN Security Council and the work of the new UN Envoy, former German President Horst Köhler. It is time that EU Member States back up their approach in New York with a consistent and complementary approach in Brussels.

Your excellencies, international law is very clear that any agreement concluded with Morocco cannot apply to Western Sahara or be implemented in any way that allows its territory, territorial waters or resources to be used in any way without the consent of the Saharawi people through their internationally recognized representatives, the Front POLISARIO. Any attempt to alter this reality will be challenged again at the ECJ, and will only see EU efforts wasted in the courts as instead of playing a constructive role in a viable political process.

We therefore request that the EU cease its attempts to circumvent the ECJ ruling, and instead focus on actions that will support Saharawi people in our legitimate aim of self-determination and democracy.

Please accept, your excellencies, the assurances of our highest consideration.

Signed,