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Spain’s Popular Party escalates opposition to EU-Morocco trade deals
The Spanish Popular Party (PP) is intensifying its campaign against the EU-Morocco trade agreements, particularly targeting Morocco’s southern provinces in Sahara. The conservative party has formally requested the exclusion of these regions from future trade agreements, a move that contrasts sharply with Spain’s official position, which supports Morocco’s Autonomy Plan as the most credible solution to the Sahara dispute.
Persistent opposition to Morocco
This is not the first time the PP has acted against Morocco. The party has repeatedly been accused of undermining bilateral relations between Rabat and Madrid. Earlier allegations by the PP, such as Morocco’s supposed involvement in the Pegasus spyware scandal, were dismissed as baseless by both the Spanish government and independent observers.
The Spanish Socialist Party (PSOE), led by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, has consistently defended Morocco as a vital partner. PSOE representatives recently condemned the PP’s actions, accusing the party of attempting to sabotage economic and political ties between the two nations. The desalination plant project in Casablanca, for instance, has been a point of contention, with the PP criticizing Spanish financial involvement despite its potential benefits for Spanish companies and workers.
EU-Morocco agreements under fire
The PP’s stance echoes sentiments from pro-Polisario advocates and Algeria, Morocco’s regional rival. In October, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled against the inclusion of products from Sahara in EU-Morocco trade agreements, citing the need for the consent of the region’s population. The decision aligns with claims by the separatist Polisario Front and its backers, who have long challenged Morocco’s territorial integrity.
Morocco strongly rejected the court’s ruling, calling it legally flawed and politically biased. The country has emphasized that no future agreements with the EU will be valid unless they respect Morocco’s territorial sovereignty. Despite these tensions, the EU has reaffirmed its strategic partnership with Morocco, highlighting the importance of their cooperation across economic, security, and political domains.
Calls for a pragmatic approach
As the PP continues its opposition, the Moroccan government and its allies stress the importance of safeguarding the EU-Morocco partnership. Officials in Rabat have called for concrete actions to protect the agreements, which they argue are vital for regional stability and economic growth. The ongoing disputes underline the broader geopolitical complexities surrounding Sahara and the enduring significance of Morocco’s alliances within Europe.