EU-Moroccan deep trade talks have begun30.04 - 2013 16:29 The European Commission and Morocco commenced first round negotiations for a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area last week in Rabat.
Russia once again violates its own fish deal with Morocco26.04 - 2013 The text of the Russia-Morocco fish accord reveals that Russian vessels are supposed to fish in the Moroccan Exclusive Economic Zone – that should preclude Western Saharan waters. WSRW has made an English translation of the Russian-Moroccan agreement.Read more
Morocco against human rights in UN - silent vis-à-vis the EU23.04 - 2013 While Morocco is lobbying hard against a proposal to have the UN monitor human rights in Western Sahara, the EU Commissioner for Fisheries states that she is still awaiting Rabat's response to the proposal for including human rights safeguards for the Western Sahara territory in a new EU-Morocco fisheries protocol. Read more
WSRW comments on UN Secretary General's report on Western Sahara12.04 - 2013 While recommending Ban Ki-Moon for expressing the need for human rights monitoring in Western Sahara, WSRW laments that his report fails to address the full extent of the issue of Morocco's plunder of the territory's natural resources.
A Saharawi resource watch group established 11.04 - 2013 'Saharawi Natural Resources Watch', dedicated to monitor the Moroccan plunder of the occupied parts of Western Sahara, was created in the Saharawi refugee camps in Algeria 9 April 2013.
Morocco: “European Parliament is a dinosaur” 05.04 - 2013 The Moroccan Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Youssef Amrani, says that the European Parliament is a “dinosaur” that obstructs efforts to reach a new EU-Morocco fisheries agreement.
MEPs ask EU Commission to respect international law in Western Sahara19.03 - 2013 A group representing over 60 MEPs has sent a letter to EU diplomacy chief Catherine Ashton and Commissioner for Fisheries Maria Damanaki, requesting them to respect the Saharawi people's wishes and interests when seeking to conclude a new fish deal with Morocco.Read more
Total request renewed15.03 - 2013 Western Sahara Resource Watch today again asked Total, for the third time, for explanations of their operations in the waters of occupied Western Sahara. Read more
Deep trade hits the fan on 22 April14.03 - 2013 Morocco and the European Union are to begin talks over a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement in Rabat on 22 April.Read more
BGP confirms seismic work for Total in Western Sahara05.03 - 2013 Chinese company BGP affirms to WSRW undertaking seabed research on behalf of French oil firm Total. This article has been updated: Seismic study to end 30 March 2013.
Siemens starting up controversial wind project on occupied land05.03 - 2013 Despite ongoing protest, German multinational Siemens is currently in the process of shipping windmill parts to El Aaiun, occupied Western Sahara. The company is partnering with the same royal family that brutally occupied the territory.Read more
EU launches talks on deepening economic relations with Morocco04.03 - 2013 "Just announced the launch of negotiations for a free-trade agreement with Morocco,'' European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso tweeted on Friday, after his meeting with Morocco’s prime minister Abdelillah Benkirane. That Free Trade Agreement will have consequences for Western Sahara.Read more
Frente Polisario tries EU trade deal in court27.02 - 2013 In a landmark initiative, the liberation movement of Western Sahara has referred an EU-Morocco free trade agreement to the European Court of Justice. The news was three days ago discreetly published in the official EU journal.Read more
Morocco occupies the major part of its neighbouring country, Western Sahara. Entering into business deals with Moroccan companies or authorities in the occupied territories gives an impression of political legitimacy to the occupation. It also gives job opportunities to Moroccan settlers and income to the Moroccan government. Western Sahara Resource Watch demands foreign companies leave Western Sahara until a solution to the conflict is found.
The military court in Rabat has convicted 25 Saharawi activists to shockingly tough sentences. All were arrested in relation to the Gdeim Izik protest camp; a peaceful manifestation disputing the Saharawi people’s continual marginalisation in their occupied country.
Sign the Petition: Stop the EU fisheries in Western Sahara
The WSRW report ‘Label and Liability’ documents how produce from the controversial agro-industry in the occupied territory, ends up in the baskets of unaware EU customers.
