The European Union has reiterated that its position on the Moroccan Sahara has not changed since France’s President Emmanuel Macron recognized Morocco’s sovereignty over its Sahara on Tuesday, EU Foreign Affairs spokesperson Josep Borrell Fontelles told Europa Press on Wednesday.
Borell said that the EU’s position (which essentially is that it takes no position) on the Sahara remains unchanged, even after France’s announcement that it will back Morocco’s autonomy plan as the only basis for achieving a fair political solution.
“It is up to each Member State to react according to its position,” Borell said.
The EU has thrown its support behind UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and his envoy Staffan de Mistura to continue “the political process to achieve a fair, realistic, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution to the issue,” and a resolution that shall be “in line with UN Security Council resolutions,” he added.
In a letter addressed to King Mohammed VI on Tuesday, President Macron formalized France’s recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara.
“The present and future” of the Sahara “lie within the framework of Morocco’s sovereignty,” he wrote.
France’s recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty caused outright anger in Algeria even before Emmanuel Macron’s official statement, as Algerian diplomats and their media channels condemned the forthcoming announcement.
Algeria, which backs the Polisario Front, a group that for decades has fought for the region’s self-determination, withdrew its ambassador to Paris.