Morocco-EU Agricultural Agreement: French Court Dismisses Pro-Polisario Farmers' Union Case

Paris, June 21 (TNA) The agricultural agreement between Morocco and the European Union is at the center of a legal dispute which has recently taken a new turn for the worse for "polisario" supporters and their relays in France. The Tarascon Court handed down a ruling condemning the Confédération Paysanne, a French farmers' union used to harass the Morocco-EU agricultural agreement. This decision comes on the heels of one handed down by the High Court in London, which also disavowed Polisario supporters in the UK a few weeks ago.

The Confédération Paysanne had brought an action to prohibit IDYL, a French company specializing in the marketing of fruit and vegetables from Morocco, including the Southern Provinces, from distributing its products. The union was also seeking damages for alleged prejudice. However, the court rejected this claim, pointing to substantive irregularities and the statute of limitations on the Confédération Paysanne's claims.

This judicial decision is a major setback for the pro-polisario French farmers' union. During the trial, IDYL was able to demonstrate the political and subjective nature of this legal action, representing an unrepresentative minority of the organization. These repeated defeats for the separatists in both France and the UK could influence the European Union's decision on the renewal of the fisheries agreement, scheduled for July 17, 2023.

In short, these court rulings confirm Morocco's legality in its southern provinces and the conformity of natural resource exploitation with international law. They represent a victory for commercial freedom and the right of populations to development, essential principles defended by the autonomy plan for the region.