Court of Justice Ruling on Western Sahara Reveals EU’s Mixed Signals
Court of Justice Ruling on Western Sahara Reveals EU’s Mixed Signals

Author(s): Szymon Zaręba
Subject(s): International relations/trade, Inter-Ethnic Relations, EU-Accession / EU-DEvelopment
Published by: PISM Polski Instytut Spraw Międzynarodowych
Keywords: Western Sahara; Africa; European Union; international law; Morocco; trade
Summary/Abstract: A Court of Justice judgment appears to have not resolved a dispute over the application of EU trade agreements with Morocco to occupied territory in Western Sahara. It confirmed, however, that the EU has not developed trade policy in relation to occupied and separatist areas that would be in line with international law. The absence of such policy negatively affects EU diplomacy and the coherence of its foreign policy, particularly in the field of sanctions. Poland could propose a review of the application of EU trade agreements to contested areas.

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