The European Union has taken a clearer and more assertive stance on the Sahara issue, endorsing Morocco’s autonomy plan as a credible basis for resolving the long-standing dispute.
The shift was formalized at the fifteenth EU–Morocco Association Council held in Brussels, where the 27 EU member states endorsed a joint communiqué with Rabat.
According to the official declaration, the EU stated that “genuine autonomy could be among the most feasible solutions” for achieving a lasting settlement to the regional dispute.
The text was signed by Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita and EU High Representative Kaja Kallas, marking a significant evolution in the bloc’s previously cautious approach.
The communiqué reaffirms the European Union’s alignment with the UN-led political process, reiterating the UN Security Council’s appeal for all parties “to engage in discussions without preconditions and on the basis of the autonomy plan proposed by Morocco in order to reach a definitive political solution.”
The EU also emphasized its appreciation for Morocco’s cooperative posture, noting that it “praised” Morocco’s willingness “to clarify how autonomy within the framework of Moroccan sovereignty would be implemented,” a position the bloc views as contributing positively to the advancement of negotiations facilitated under UN auspices.
Brussels additionally welcomed the recent UN Security Council vote, stating that it “welcomed the adoption of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2797 (2025), which fully supports the efforts of the Secretary‑General and his Personal Envoy to facilitate and conduct negotiations based on the autonomy plan proposed by Morocco.”
The EU’s collective endorsement of both the resolution and the autonomy initiative marks a break from earlier years in which member states advanced their support individually.
The communiqué itself underscores this moment, describing the new European stance as reflecting the “consensus of the 27 EU member States” and as “a fundamental step forward” in approaching the Sahara question.
It adds that this development “should undoubtedly give new impetus to future bilateral relations and meetings” between the EU and Morocco.
This diplomatic convergence comes at a time when cooperation between Rabat and Brussels is deepening across multiple fronts, including political, security, economic, migratory and energy matters.
The EU is Morocco’s largest trading partner, representing 59% of its total goods trade in 2024, and is also the primary destination for 67.7% of Morocco’s exports, while supplying 54% of its imports, according to European Commission trade data.
Total goods trade between the two partners reached €60.6 billion in 2024, and the EU remains the largest foreign investor in Morocco.
