. – The European Court of Justice has noted that this fisheries agreement is applicable to ʻwaters under the sovereignty or jurisdictionʼ of the Kingdom of Morocco. However, in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the waters over which the coastal State is entitled to exercise sovereignty or jurisdiction are limited to waters adjacent to and under its sea territory or its exclusive economic zone.Bearing this in mind, the territory of Western Sahara is not part of the territory of the Kingdom of Morocco; the waters adjacent to the territory of Western Sahara do not fall within the Moroccan fishing zone covered by this agreement, as Western Sahara is illegally occupied by Morocco.Sinn Féin supports Western Saharaʼs struggle for self-determination and we oppose any economic agreement between the EU and Morocco that compromises the resources of the Saharawi people and their exploitation under Moroccoʼs illegal occupation. For these reasons we voted against this agreement.
2016/11/22