The European Union has taken a clearer and more assertive stance on the Sahara issue, endorsing Morocco’s autonomy plan as a credible basis for resolving the long-standing dispute. The shift was formalized at the fifteenth EU–Morocco Association Council held in Brussels, where the 27 EU member states endorsed a joint communiqué with Rabat. The communiqué itself underscores this moment, describing the new European stance as reflecting the “consensus of the 27 EU member States” and as “a fundamental step forward” in approaching the Sahara question. This diplomatic convergence comes at a time when cooperation between Rabat and Brussels is deepening across multiple fronts, including political, security, economic, migratory and energy matters. Total goods trade between the two partners reached €60.6 billion in 2024, and the EU remains the largest foreign investor in Morocco.

Source: The North Africa Journal February 02, 2026 12:39 UTC