Sweden has officially announced its support for Morocco’s 2007 autonomy plan to resolve the Sahara conflict, bringing to an end years of hesitation and political maneuvering. The shift deals a significant setback to the Polisario Front, which had long regarded the Scandinavian countries as among its strongest supporters in Europe.
The issue of Western Sahara holds a central place in Spanish political debate. It is the subject of renewed attention through a report published by the Elcano Royal Institute, which analyzes the evolution of Madrid's stance: from defending the principle of self-determination with a view towards independence to explicitly supporting a solution based on autonomy.