 The European Union is called to join the dynamics underway in the Moroccan Sahara, said Patrick Saerens, lawyer and professor of international law in an article published Monday in the daily "La Libre Belgique".
After recalling that the regional conflict around the Moroccan Sahara is detrimental to the development of the Maghreb, with a considerable economic cost, Mr. Saerens noted that the situation is evolving, especially following the return of Morocco to the African Union (AU) and a diplomacy that wants to appease on the subject.
The Belgian expert in international law highlighted in this context the confirmation of the Biden Administration of the Moroccanity of the Sahara, which constitutes "a major event that changes the geostrategic data of the region".
In a few years, he added, no less than 21 consulates have opened in the Sahara, noting that the European Union keeps in this regard "a wait-and-see position that serves neither its interests, nor those of the inhabitants of the area".
After recalling the judicial twists and turns related to the fisheries and agricultural agreements between Morocco and the EU, the Belgian lawyer noted that the decision of the judges in Luxembourg, which was immediately appealed by the Court of Justice of the EU, "shows that the line is thin between legal and political arguments, which is not the role of the judiciary.
However, he explained, "the contested decision has both diplomatic impacts since Morocco is, by far, the most reliable partner in the region, and economic because if the decision were to be confirmed, European companies could be ordered to pay significant amounts to plaintiffs.
For him, "it is therefore urgent that the EU takes the case in hand to avoid that some judges are forced to settle this political dispute by a focus that is not their responsibility.
Mr. Saerens also highlighted the autonomy proposal presented by Morocco "which has been welcomed by many stakeholders of all political parties.
The EU, he recalled, recognized in 2019 that this autonomy plan "was going in the right direction".
In this context, Professor Saerens believes that "the French presidency of the EU may take over the issue, but we can hope that Belgium, a land of consensus where the heart of Europe beats, can make its contribution.
-News on Western Sahara/Corcas
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