EU legal adviser backs cancellation of EU-Morocco fishing agreement over disputed Western Sahara
A legal adviser to the European Union’s top court has recommended that it annul Europe's fishing agreement with Morocco, which would have allowed European boats to fish for valuable catch off the coast of the disputed Western Sahara
RABAT, Morocco — A legal adviser to the European Union’s top court recommended Thursday that it annul the bloc’s fishing agreement with Morocco, which would have allowed European boats to fish for valuable catch off the coast of the disputed Western Sahara.
The advocate general for the Court of Justice of the EU backed the court's earlier ruling and recommended it reject a series of appeals that sought to uphold Europe's Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement with Morocco. The court in 2021 ruled the agreement violated the rights of people from the disputed territory and the Polisario Front, which Europe considers the representatives of the Sahrawi people.
The 2019 agreement lays out how European vessels can fish off of northwest Africa, including in waters adjacent to the disputed territory claimed and administered by Morocco. Advocate General Tamara Capeta said in press release Thursday that it did “not fulfill the requirement to treat the territory of Western Sahara as ‘separate and distinct’ from that of the Kingdom of Morocco.”
The court generally follows recommendations from appointed legal experts like Capeta and Thursday's strikes a blow against Morocco and the European authorities who appealed the ruling.
Morocco's Foreign Ministry did not respond to questions about the decision.
The status of the disputed Western Sahara has been a major sticking point between Morocco and the European Union, its biggest trade partner and foreign investor. Agreements between the two sides have
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