The European Union supports autonomy in the Sahara under Moroccan sovereignty
The 15th session of the Association Council between the Kingdom of Morocco and the European Union, which concluded on Thursday in Brussels, was marked by the adoption, for the first time, of a common European position on the Moroccan Sahara, which considers that “true autonomy may represent one of the most applicable solutions” for the final resolution of the regional conflict
This position, which is adopted by the 27 Member States of the European Union, was included in a joint statement signed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Abroad, Nasser Bourita, and the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaya Kalas, at the conclusion of this 15th session of the European Union-Morocco Association Council.
The joint statement expresses that the European Union, with its 27 members, takes up the call made by the UN Security Council to all parties “to participate in talks without preconditions and on the basis of the autonomy scheme proposed by Morocco, with a view to reaching a final political solution.”
In this context, the European Union “welcomed” Morocco's willingness to clarify how it will give substance to autonomy within the framework of Moroccan sovereignty, the joint statement added.
Furthermore, the European Union commended “the adoption by the UN Security Council of Resolution 2797 (2025), which fully supports the efforts of the UN Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy to facilitate and lead negotiations on the basis of the autonomy plan presented by Morocco.”
While many EU member states have already expressed clear and explicit support for the Moroccan Sahara and the autonomy initiative proposed by Morocco, this new position by the European Union is a fundamental development.
This development comes within the framework of the international momentum launched by King Mohammed VI in favor of the Moroccan Sahara and in support of the Autonomy Initiative, which culminated in the adoption of Security Council Resolution 2797 on October 31, 2025.
This new European position reflects the agreement of the 27 member states of the European Union in favor of a final solution to this territorial dispute on the basis of autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty, which would undoubtedly give new impetus to future bilateral relations and rights, particularly with a view to establishing a new partnership between the two parties.