The Polisario Front has condemned «in the strongest terms» the new agreement between the European Union and Morocco, describing it as «illegitimate». The group argued that «the negotiations took place in just five days, behind the backs of the Sahrawi people, and it was hastily approved through a written procedure to force member states to comply, while its temporary application was used as a means to paralyze the European Parliament and present it with a fait accompli». Seeking to frame itself as a defender of European farmers, the Polisario claimed that the deal represents a «serious short-term threat to European agricultural sectors, which are already facing significant challenges due to the current volume of exports, exports that the Sahrawi people have consistently opposed». The Front asserted that «opening direct negotiations with the Polisario Front» is «the only way to ensure the implementation of court rulings». It further accused the European Commission of persisting in «its illegal approach, which condemns the European Union to repeat past mistakes». The Polisario also announced its «intention to resort to all appropriate legal avenues, with determination and foresight», while issuing an «official appeal to European authorities to reject the approval of this new agreement», which it claims violates «the Sahrawi people's right to self-determination and undermines the UN process». Meanwhile, on Friday, the Kingdom of Morocco and the European Union signed, at the headquarters of the European Commission in Brussels, the exchange of modified letters concerning the agricultural agreement binding the two parties. Under this agreement, agricultural products originating from the southern regions will benefit from the same preferential access conditions to the European market as products from other parts of the Kingdom, in line with the Morocco-EU partnership agreement. The deal also introduces technical amendments regarding consumer information, notably through labeling that specifies production areas in the south of the Kingdom, «Laâyoune-Sakia El Hamra» and «Dakhla-Oued Ed-Dahab».
