The European Union continues to sideline the Polisario Front in discussions concerning the distribution of «financial benefits to the Sahrawi people» in relation to free trade agreements with Morocco. Brussels is conducting these negotiations exclusively with Rabat. Following the signing on October 3 in Brussels of the letters amending the agricultural agreement, Morocco and the European Union are preparing to address the sensitive issue of the «budgetary mechanism» in the coming weeks, Africa Intelligence revealed this Friday, October 24. The two parties have set a deadline of two months, until the end of December, to establish its framework. This initiative is designed to align with the European Court of Justice (ECJ) rulings issued on October 4, 2024. To recap, the European Commission's proposal, introduced in July and approved by the Twenty-Seven at the beginning of October, mandates that the «people of Western Sahara» receive a specific, tangible, substantial, and verifiable benefit proportional to the exploitation of natural resources. This benefit must come with assurances that the exploitation is conducted sustainably, especially regarding the preservation of non-renewable resources and the renewal of renewable resources, such as fish stocks. The European Commission stressed the importance of adhering to these conditions to ensure the agreement complies with the principle of prioritizing the interests of the peoples of non-self-governing territories, as outlined in Article 73 of the United Nations Charter and customary international law. Political and Economic Dimensions Progress in Tandem By setting a deadline of the end of December to finalize the budgetary mechanism, the European Union and Morocco are also making strides on the political front. The UN Security Council is scheduled to vote on October 30 on a new resolution to extend the mandate of MINURSO in the Sahara for several more months. The draft resolution, presented by the United States to the Fifteen, proposes an extension until January 31, 2026, and encourages the parties to resume negotiations based on the Moroccan autonomy plan during this period. Thus, the political and economic aspects of the issue are advancing in a coordinated manner. Additionally, Africa Intelligence reports that the population of the Tindouf camps could also benefit from the future budgetary mechanism between Rabat and Brussels. The arrangement would involve the Directorate-General for Humanitarian Aid (DG ECHO) and the Directorate-General for Education and Culture (DG EAC) as key participants. The French-speaking media notes that the annual financial benefits the European Union will provide to the «Sahrawi people» have yet to be determined by Rabat and Brussels.
