European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and the EU High Representative Josep Borrell reaffirmed, in a joint statement on Friday, the EU's commitment to further preserving and strengthening its close relations with Morocco in all fields, in accordance with the principle "pacta sunt servanda" (agreements must be respected).
"In close cooperation with Morocco, the EU is firmly committed to preserving and continuing to strengthen its close relations with Morocco in all areas of the EU-Morocco partnership, in line with the principle pacta sunt servanda," emphasized von der Leyen and Borrell in their joint statement.
Reacting to the European Court of Justice’s (ECJ) decision regarding the fisheries and agricultural agreements between the EU and Morocco, both officials reiterated the "great value" that the EU places on its "long-standing, extensive, and deep strategic partnership with Morocco." They also reminded that over the years, both parties have established "a deep friendship and strong, multifaceted cooperation, which we intend to elevate to a higher level in the coming weeks and months."
The ECJ decision has already prompted reactions from Spain, France, Hungary, and numerous European parliamentarians.
The French MEP Nicolas Bay, vice-president of the European Parliament delegation to the Africa-EU Parliamentary Assembly, responded on the social network X, stating that the ECJ had yielded to the claims of the "terrorists of the Polisario Front” regarding the Sahara and had "undermined European and Moroccan economic interests,” while violating "the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Morocco.”
"Morocco remains the most reliable partner in North Africa and the only interlocutor of the EU on all political and commercial issues,” commented MEP Tomáš Zdechovský, of the European People's Party (EPP) group in the European Parliament. According to him, the "Polisario" is a "threat to the stability and security of the EU's neighborhood."
"A sad day for Europe,” wrote MEP Thierry Mariani, noting that everyone has understood that the Sahara is Moroccan, "except for the EU Court of Justice.”