The Polisario Front has issued a renewed call to the European Union, seeking to initiate trade negotiations, as reported by a media outlet aligned with the movement. This announcement came on Saturday, following a formal letter sent by Polisario leader Brahim Ghali to the Polish Prime Minister. Poland is set to assume the EU's rotating presidency from January 1 to June 30, 2025, as disclosed by Mohamed Salem Ould Salek, Ghali's diplomatic advisor. In his correspondence, Ghali appealed to the EU's 27 member states to engage in direct negotiations with the Polisario regarding trade agreements for Western Sahara. This request aligns with the European Court of Justice's rulings from October 4. The Court had affirmed that «the Polisario Front is a privileged interlocutor within the framework of the process conducted under the aegis of the United Nations with a view to determining the future status of Western Sahara». Mohamed Salem Ould Salek emphasized, «The Polisario is ready to open negotiations with the European Union to reach a framework that respects the Court's decisions and guarantees the interests of the Sahrawi people, holders of permanent sovereignty over the natural resources of Western Sahara». On Tuesday, January 28, a Polisario delegation led by Ould Salek met with Members of the European Parliament's International Trade Committee. The discussions focused on the implications of the CJEU rulings. In a related development, the European Commission announced on January 20 that it had excluded Western Sahara from an air transport agreement with Morocco, adhering to the CJEU's decision.
