WRITTEN QUESTION P-0575/02 by Carlos Bautista Ojeda (Verts/ALE) to the Council. Council position on the situation in Western Sahara.
Date: 2002-02-27
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU relations, Morocco, UN Security Council, Western Sahara, oil industry, territorial dispute, trade agreement

26.9.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 229 E/89

As regards the possibility of setting up a new regional fisheries organisation for the South-East Pacific, the
Commission agrees that multilateral cooperation is the best way of ensuring long-term resource
conservation. The third strand of the agreement therefore provides for the Community and Chile to
launch a joint initiative to develop multilateral cooperation.

In this context, several of the parties involved with swordfish fisheries in the South-East Pacific will be
invited to take part in an international consultation exercise to be held in Chile in May 2002. The main
goal of this meeting is to define terms of reference and identify the most appropriate form for multilateral
cooperation on sword fish conservation in the region.

(2002/C 229 E/099)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0453/02

by Isidoro Sánchez García (ELDR) to the Council

Subject: EU foreign policy vis-à-vis Morocco and Western Sahara

(27 February 2002)

In response to the 29 January 2002 opinion drawn up by the UN’s Legal Affairs Department on the extent
and the legal implications of Morocco’s presence in Western Sahara (stemming from the oil-exploration
agreements concluded between Morocco and certain oil companies operating in the waters of Western
Sahara), it is understood that there is to be a major shift in the EU’s foreign policy vis-à-vis Morocco.

Pursuant to Article 21 of the EU Treaty, what action does the Council intend to take with a view to
applying the abovementioned legal opinion to the EU’s relations with Morocco as regards the latter
country’s involvement in Western Sahara?

(2002/C 229 E/100)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0575/02

by Carlos Bautista Ojeda (Verts/ALE) to the Council

Subject: Council position on the situation in Western Sahara

(27 February 2002)

In view of the opinion delivered by the UN Legal Affairs Department on 29 January 2002 concerning the
legal
implications of contracts signed by the Kingdom of Morocco with oil companies to explore for
mineral resources on the Saharan coast, what is the Council’s common position on the matter? What
stance does it take regarding this assessment of the sovereignty and status of administrative power
exercised by the Kingdom of Morocco?

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-0453/02 and P-0575/02

(26 June 2002)

The Western Sahara question is currently being debated in the UN Security Council. The Council
is
following the discussions closely and fully supports the efforts of the UN to find a lasting and stable
solution. It is in regular contact with the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy, Mr James Baker and with
all parties to the conflict and is willing to contribute to establishing a climate of confidence between the
parties concerned in order to facilitate an acceptable solution.

The Council has to date not adopted a formal position on the opinion delivered by the UN Legal Affairs
Department.