The Declaration of Intent regarding the establishment of an energy-partnership between the Kingdom of Morocco and the German Bundesrepublic, signed yesterday, focuses on the need to further develop a bilateral partnership in order to expand renewable energy initiatives, and the need for political support for the Desertec project - a giant solar power project in the Sahara desert.

By 2050, Desertec aims to supply 15% of Europe’s energy needs through solar energy generated in the Saharan desert. The project has been criticised for including occupied Western Sahara in its projected scope. A map depicting solar and wind plants in the occupied territory is still included on Desertec's webpages today.

Following protests by civil society, Desertec announced in 2010 that it would not undertake its pilot project in Western Sahara, citing “reputational reasons”. But Desertec never commented on the location of follow-up projects.

German multinational Siemens, a major shareholder of the Desertec Industrial Initiative, is currently partnering with Moroccan holding Nareva for a windfarm project in occupied Western Sahara.

No mention is done in the new bilateral declaration as to the scope of the partnership: Morocco sees Western Sahara as their own national territory. The German government, the UN and the International Court of Justice do not recognise Western Sahara as part of Morocco.