The Moroccan Justice and Development Party (PJD) issued a press statement today, Saturday, expressing its strong condemnation of the European Court of Justice’s ruling issued yesterday, Friday, regarding the agriculture and fisheries agreements concluded between Morocco and the European Union in 2019.
The party, in a statement signed by its Secretary-General Abdelilah Benkirane, emphasized that Morocco’s sovereignty over its southern provinces is “deeply rooted in history, constant and settled,” stressing that it is “non-negotiable and not subject to blackmail.” The statement cited the Moroccan monarch’s declaration that “Morocco will remain in its Sahara and the Sahara will remain in its Morocco until God inherits the earth and whoever is on it.”
The party expressed its full support for the position of Moroccan authorities, which affirmed that the kingdom is not concerned with this ruling and was not a party at any stage of its proceedings. The party considered the European Court’s intervention in a sovereign issue concerning Morocco as “unacceptable,” questioning the court’s overreach of its jurisdiction.
The statement emphasized the party’s support for all political and diplomatic steps taken by the kingdom to confront what it described as an “unfair and biased decision.” It considered that this ruling disregards the existing strategic relations between Morocco and the European Union, representing “political blackmail” and unacceptable interference in the kingdom’s sovereign affairs.
The statement pointed out that the Sahara issue is exclusively managed under the United Nations framework, according to the Moroccan autonomy proposal which enjoys increasing international support, including from EU member states, as it is considered a serious and credible solution to end this dispute.
The party’s position reflects growing concerns about the implications of the European Court’s ruling on Morocco-EU relations and underscores Morocco’s unwavering stance on its territorial integrity. The statement also highlights the kingdom’s commitment to defending its interests through diplomatic channels while maintaining its sovereign rights.