The first meeting to bring Horst Köhler and a Moroccan delegation together went well. Morocco reiterated its conditions for the settlement of the conflict. A position that contradicts what the German mediator is advocating for.
Linnéa Engström, the vice-chairwoman of the EU Committee on Fisheries, wants Brussels to negotiate directly with the Polisario. A year ago, the Swedish MEP adopted the same position, relaunched after the CJEU’s ruling.
The Polisario Front has issued a statement urging the European Commission to give legal clarity over a delegation that visited Laayoune to update the list of companies authorized to export their products to the EU. Angered by this visit, the Front referred to the European Court of Justice’ ruling. Meanwhile, Morocco has succeeded in holding negotiations to overcome the obstacles set by the same verdict.
Having King Mohammed VI’s attending the 5th AU-EU summit reinforces the kingdom’s presence in Africa. A decision announced as the Polisario allies gathered under the umbrella of the Southern African Development Community are facing a number of changes, namely in Zimbabwe and Angola.