EU Court of Justice Cancels Morocco’s Privileges on Western Sahara Products
Equipe Media – El Aaiun -Occupied Western Sahara
October 24, 2024
The organizations “Légumes de France” and “AOP Tomates et Concombres de France” have welcomed two rulings from the European Court of Justice on October 4. The first ruling cancels the application of agricultural advantages granted to Morocco under its association agreement with the EU for products originating from Western Sahara. The second ruling requires the clear labeling of agricultural products from Western Sahara, preventing any reference to them as Moroccan.
In a joint statement, the French organizations explained that the court determined the consent of the Sahrawi people is required for the EU-Morocco trade agreements concerning agricultural and fishing products, which has not been given as a large portion of the Sahrawi people is currently displaced.
As a result, within a year, agricultural products from Western Sahara, including tomatoes, will no longer benefit from the trade advantages granted under the EU-Morocco bilateral agreements.
Additionally, the court emphasized the need for products from Western Sahara to be clearly labeled with their origin to avoid misleading consumers regarding their true source.
The French organizations see these rulings as a step toward rebalancing the agricultural relationship between Morocco and the EU. They noted that Moroccan tomato exports to France have increased by 30% over the past decade, primarily due to greenhouse cultivation in Western Sahara.
In the same context, the “Spanish Federation of Fruit, Vegetable, Flower and Live Plant Producer Exporter Associations” (FEPEX) expressed its support for these rulings, as it is expected that agricultural products from Western Sahara will be excluded from customs privileges under the EU-Morocco partnership agreement within the next year.