Kallas backs Morocco on Western Sahara, calls for ‘partnership’ deal this year

The EU’s foreign affairs chief has reiterated the bloc’s support for Morocco’s plan for the disputed territory of Western Sahara, urging the two sides to finalise a ‘strategic partnership’ covering trade and security later this year. 

Following talks in Rabat on Thursday (16 April) with Morocco’s foreign minister Nasser Bourita, Kallas said that “recent developments, including talks facilitated by the United States in coordination with the United Nations, are encouraging.” Morocco, which claims sovereignty over Western Sahara, would retain control over the territories’ foreign policy while devolving powers over the economy. 

Kallas also urged EU and Moroccan officials to conclude the “timely finalisation of a Strategic and Comprehensive Partnership” between Brussels and Rabat later this year.  

Last October, the United Nations Security Council voted to change its position on Western Sahara by backing Morocco’s regional autonomy plan that would establish a local legislative, executive and judicial authority elected by its residents, while Rabat would control defence, foreign affairs and religious affairs. 

In late January, following a meeting between EU foreign ministers and Bourita, the EU did the same. 

“We have a new strategic partnership focused on trade, investment, and migration to take our relationship to the next level. I am confident that we will launch this partnership this year,” said Kallas. 

Aside from being the EU’s main trading partner in North Africa, Morocco is a major supplier of energy to Spain. The two countries are close to finalising plans to build a €15–20bn rail tunnel under the Strait of Gibraltar. 

On Thursday, Kallas and Bourita agreed on plans for a security dialogue at the EU-Mediterranean Regional Security Forum, which will be held later this year.  

Thus would “allow us to further our work on counter-terrorism, maritime security, and resilience against hybrid threats — areas in which Morocco plays a central regional role,” said Kallas. 

In the US Senate, meanwhile, a bill that would designate the Polisario Front, the political wing of the independence movement in Western Sahara, as a terrorist group was launched in March. 

Rabat hopes that getting Polisario designated as a terror group would have a cascade effect, encouraging the EU and other jurisdictions to follow suit. Morocco, and the sponsors of the US Senate bill, which include Ted Cruz, who challenged Donald Trump for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016, contend that Polisario is supported and has received training from Hezbollah and Iran.