ECJ’s anti-Morocco verdict, a sword thrust in water – FM says

The political verdict rendered by the European Court of Justice, annulling the EU’s trade deals with Morocco, was an ineffectual decision that is akin to a sword thrust in water as far as the Sahara issue is concerned, said Moroccan foreign minister Nasser Bourita.

Bourita, who reiterated the same stance expressed in an official statement by his department, told the press that Morocco was not concerned by the court’s decision and that it was up to the EU to find a solution in the wake of the verdict, while reiterating that Morocco will never accept a commercial deal that does not respect its territorial integrity and national unity.

Bourita was speaking at a news conference with head of the Head of the autonomous Canary Islands region Fernando Clavijo.

The scale of the isolation of the court was stark following the joint statement by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU High Representative Josep Borrell, as well as several EU countries’ positions reaffirming their commitment to partnering with Morocco.

Germany was the latest EU heavyweight to stress attachment to the longstanding partnership with Morocco, echoing earlier positions by France, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Hungary, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Finland, and Austria.

The European Parliament foiled by a majority vote an attempt by pro-separatist MEPs to list the ECJ ruling in its agenda.

The court cannot replace the security council and its verdict is a wasted effort with no impact on the evolution of the Sahara issue, as at least 19 European countries back the autonomy plan put forward to find a lasting solution to the regional dispute.

The Moroccan Foreign minister reiterated in this respect the importance of the April 2022 declaration by Spain and Morocco which considers the autonomy plan as “the solution” to the Sahara issue, describing Moroccan-Spanish cooperation as a model for neighborly relations in the Mediterranean.