In this article, we focus on the role of European institutions in promoting and protecting the human rights of Sahrawis. Finally, the third phase began at the end of the 1990s, when the EP adopted a number of resolutions regarding the human rights situation in the occupied territories. The first part describes the role of the EU in the conflict in Western Sahara and the involvement of European institutions.
14 benabdallah, K., "The European Union's Position on the Western Sahara Conflict", Journal of Contemporary European Studies 17, no. However, in the case of Western Sahara products (fish, phosphate, tomatoes...) the exploitation itself means a violation of Sahrawi economic rights. The publication of the report coincided with the creation of the ERC and the apparent bet of Mohamed VI to improve the human rights situation in the country.
In the next section, we will examine the EU's attitude towards these human rights violations. THE ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION FOR THE PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN WESTERN SAHARA.
THE ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION FOR THE DEFENSE OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE WESTERN SAHARA. DOUBLE
We will try to establish whether his attitude was coherent to his external policy and to the commitment of the EU institutions to the promotion of human rights. Calls on the Commission and Member States – bearing in mind that the political solution to the Western Sahara conflict, reconciliation and the human rights situation are closely linked – to be more active in the solution of the Western Sahara conflict, and not only supporting the UN negotiations - but also using its various external policy instruments (for example, strengthening human rights monitoring and awareness among police and security forces, supporting democratic reforms, including decentralization, combating discrimination in the region) to promote much-needed trust between the conflicting parties»62. This monitoring of the situation of human rights in the Western Sahara stands in contrast to the official positioning of the EU and the steps taken to promote human rights in the area.
Considering the human rights situation in Morocco as a whole, and in the occupied territories in particular, and the introduction of the "democratic clause" in the 2007 Association Agreement and the human rights section of the ENP, it is difficult to it is understandable why Morocco has not been sanctioned69. In some cases, such as Liberia, Zimbabwe or Guinea, the deterioration of the human rights situation meant the application of sanctions or even the suspension of the agreement. However, in cases such as the Moroccan Trade Agreement or the EU-Israel, the human rights situation had no consequences for the implementation of the agreements.
Geopolitical and economic considerations underlying the application of the “democratic clause” led to the above, according to Ùbeda de tores. Although the EU's involvement in the protection of the human rights of the Sahrawi people has been low and has not had implications for the EU-Morocco agreements and partnership, in our view the EU has expressed greater concern about the situation of civilian population. and political rights. Norbert Neuser: «The situation of political prisoners is becoming worrying, after five weeks of hunger strike.
Moreover, the violation of the Sahrawis' right to their natural resources under the Fisheries and Agriculture Agreement shows the EU's low commitment to economic, social and cultural rights. It also lacks information on whether the further liberalization of these goods is in line with the wishes and interests of the people of Western Sahara. In these circumstances, it seems appropriate to clarify these issues with the Commission before taking a decision on consent to the conclusion of the proposed agreement.
On the other hand, the judgment consolidated the legal personality of the POLISARIO Front, as the case was deemed admissible. The reports of the in situ missions focus mainly on the economic, social and cultural rights to the exploitation of natural resources, or on the situation of refugees. On the contrary, as we have already said, many humanitarian organizations have warned about the deterioration of the refugee situation97.
CONCLUSIONS
Despite the recognition of refugees' vulnerability, this has not translated into an increase in the flow of aid. Although, as we have pointed out, the EU, especially through the EP, has addressed the European concern for the human rights of the Sahrawi people, this commitment has been purely declarative and mainly focused on the political and civil rights of the Sahrawis who live in occupied territories or humanitarian flows. On the one hand, the promotion of the economic rights of the Sahrawi people is linked to the exploitation of their natural resources.
However, as we have stated, the EU not only ignores the international legal protection of the Sahara's natural resources, but knowingly violates it by signing fisheries, agricultural and trade agreements, despite the legal opinions of the European Legal Service and the UN Legal Service. evaluator Hans Corell, as pointed out in the judgment of the European Court. Solving the systematic oppression of the Saharan language, culture and tradition would mean acknowledging the existence of the Saharan identity. This recognition would certainly upset the Moroccan ally, which persistently denies the existence of a Saharan identity.
Despite all this, the position of the EU institutions, even the EP, on the human rights of the Sahrawi people remains persistent and limited to the situation of civil and political rights, in line with Moroccan self-proclaimed promotion of human rights. Furthermore, the promotion and defense of the civil and political rights of the Sahrawi people is limited to tepid statements and resolutions on enforced disappearances, arbitrary detention or torture, but is not translated into open criticism of the Moroccan state. Consequently, there are no sanctions or consequences under the democracy clause.
As regards the situation of the refugee population in Algeria, the EU's involvement through the humanitarian flows provided by ECHO is limited to basic livelihoods and food supplies. Despite admitting the refugees' vulnerability, ECHO has not increased the budget for Saharan refugees or promoted development projects to promote local human development of long-term refugees. In any case, the promotion and protection of human rights cannot be limited or determined by the economic and political interests of the European institutions or Member States.
On the contrary, the EU must take the lead in a coherent and holistic defense of Sahrawi human rights by first stopping the exploitation of natural resources; and secondly, the implementation of the «democratic clause» of the cooperation agreements would continue the violation of human rights.
In any case, the EU must link its cooperation agreements with Morocco to the promotion and respect of human rights. This promotion and defense must evolve from declarative and isolated statements to an active defense of the human rights of the Sahrawi people. On the contrary, the EU must take the lead in a coherent and holistic defense of Sahrawi human rights, first and foremost by stopping the exploitation of natural resources; and second, implementing the “democratic clause” of the cooperation agreements should human rights violations continue. dir), Los otros vuelos de la muerte, Ed. bontems, C., La guerre du Sáhara Ocidental.
La UE, la sociedad civil y la transformación del conflicto en el Sáhara Occidental: el fracaso de la desconexión”, Documento de trabajo de políticas de MICROCON no. duboIs mIgoya, A., gurIdI aldanondo, L., lópez belloso, M., «Desarrollo humano local en circunstancias de crisis», Revista Internacional de Economía Social, vol. dunbar, C., "Estasis sahariana: situación y perspectivas futuras del conflicto del Sáhara Occidental", Middle East Journal, vol.54, no. fIsas, V., “El proceso de paz del Sáhara Occidental: una propuesta para una solución negociada”, Quaderns de Construcció de Pau, núm. gIllespIe, R., "Respuestas de la Unión Europea al conflicto en el Mediterráneo occidental", The Journal of North African Studies, vol. ed.), La Asociación Euromediterránea: perspectivas políticas y económicas. Kausch, K., "¿Qué tan serio es el apoyo de la UE a la democracia y los derechos humanos en Marruecos?", Democracy Working papers, ECFR/FRIDE, 2008, p. Úbeda de Torres, A., “El desarrollo de la condicionalidad política dentro de la Unión Europea”, Revista de Derecho Comunitario Europeo, núm.
Clause on human rights and democracy in EU agreements Resolution of the European Parliament on the clause on human rights and democracy in European Union agreements INI)). Annual report on human rights and democracy in the world 2011 and European Union policy in this area, 12 September 2012. Annual report on human rights and democracy in the world 2011 and European Union policy in this area, 13 December 2012.
Resumen: La actitud de la UE ante el conflicto del Sáhara Occidental se ha caracterizado principalmente por: i) una actitud mucho más tibia que en otros conflictos; ii) y con lo que se ha denominado "la política de doble rasero", con diferente implicación de las distintas instituciones europeas y con un posicionamiento desigual respecto a la negociación política sobre la solución del conflicto y la defensa de los derechos humanos. Se ha considerado que esta incoherencia se mantenía entre el posicionamiento político de las instituciones de la UE, influido por la presión política de algunos de los actores implicados, como Francia y España; y de los intereses económicos de la UE, que están relacionados fundamentalmente con la explotación de los recursos naturales del territorio, al tiempo que parecía haber acuerdo sobre el compromiso claro de la UE con la defensa de los derechos humanos de la población saharaui. Mientras las instituciones europeas defienden así los derechos civiles y políticos de la población saharaui en los territorios ocupados, además de condenar la precaria situación que enfrenta la población en los campos de refugiados, ante la violación de los derechos económicos, sociales y culturales de del pueblo saharaui, los intereses económicos de varios estados miembros de estas instituciones prevalecen sobre la defensa de los derechos humanos del pueblo saharaui.
Este artículo intentará demostrar esta incoherencia en la defensa de los derechos humanos.
