Morocco is voicing its strong opposition to the ruling by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) that cancelled trade deals allowing the country to export fish and farm products from Western Sahara to the EU. The ruling stated that the people of Western Sahara were not consulted before the deals were signed, breaching their right to self-determination according to the ECJ.
The disputed Western Sahara region, annexed by Morocco in 1975, has been the subject of a long-standing territorial dispute and the recent ruling is seen as a victory for the Western Saharan people by the Algerian-backed Polisario Front. The ruling requires products from Western Sahara, specifically melons and tomatoes, to be labelled with their origin to avoid misleading consumers.
Despite the ruling, the EU remains committed to its partnership with Morocco and seeks to maintain strong relations with the country. However, the ruling is a setback for Morocco and raises questions about the legitimacy of its trade agreements with the EU in relation to Western Sahara.
The UN has been involved in efforts to resolve the conflict in Western Sahara since the ceasefire in 1991, but disagreements over who should vote in a proposed referendum have stalled progress. The recent ruling by the ECJ adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing dispute and highlights the need for a mutually acceptable political solution to the conflict.
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