EU Stance on Western Sahara unchanged despite France's move

Following France's announcement of its recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara, the European Union (EU) reiterated on Wednesday that its position on the issue remains unchanged.

«It is the responsibility of each member state to react based on its own positions», the EU foreign affairs spokesperson said on Wednesday. «The EU's common position on this issue remains unchanged».

The EU continues to support UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and his envoy for Western Sahara, Staffan de Mistura, «to continue the political process aimed at achieving a just, realistic, pragmatic, lasting, and mutually acceptable political solution to the Western Sahara issue», emphasizing that the solution must be «in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions».

For the record, in a letter to King Mohammed VI on Tuesday, Macron acknowledged that «the present and future of Western Sahara fall within the framework of Moroccan sovereignty», and emphasized that France would «act consistently with this position at both national and international levels».