Spanish recognition of the Moroccan plan for autonomy for Western Sahara

21.3.2022

Question for written answer  E-001162/2022
to the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
Rule 138
José Ramón Bauzá Díaz (Renew)

The Moroccan royal house announced that it received a letter from the Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, a fact subsequently confirmed by the latter.

That letter states that ‘Spain considers the Moroccan initiative for autonomy to be the most serious, realistic and credible basis for a resolution of the dispute’, referring to the autonomy plan for Western Sahara proposed by Morocco in 2007, which runs counter to international law as applicable to a territory yet to be decolonised and recognised as such by the United Nations.

In light of the above, and bearing in mind the provisions of international law, EU case-law and UN Security Council resolutions applicable to Western Sahara:

• 1.What is the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative's of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and the European External Action Service’s assessment of the Moroccan autonomy plan for Western Sahara?
• 2.Do they consider it to be in keeping with international law?