News Desk:

Spain’s lower house of parliament, the Congress of Deputies, has voted to reject a controversial amendment to the EU-Morocco trade agreement that would include products originating from Western Sahara, a disputed territory under partial Moroccan control. The decision is being seen as a strong political rebuke of both the European Commission and Morocco’s efforts to expand trade ties without the explicit consent of the Sahrawi people.

The amendment, recently proposed by the European Commission, sought to integrate agricultural and fishery products from Western Sahara into the existing EU-Morocco trade framework. However, critics argued that the move directly violated a landmark ruling by the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) on October 4, 2024, which reaffirmed that any EU agreement involving Western Sahara must obtain the prior and informed consent of its people.

The motion opposing the amendment was tabled by the right-wing Vox party, which has consistently criticized the EU’s handling of trade policy and its impact on Spain’s domestic agriculture sector. Vox leader Santiago Abascal described the Congress vote as “a clear win for Spanish farmers and national sovereignty.”

“This is a victory for Vox in defending Spanish farmers against unfair competition and against the maneuvers of Brussels and Morocco to undermine European jurisprudence,” the party said in a statement.

Spanish media outlets, including El Debate, highlighted the vote as a defense of both international law and national agricultural interests. The approved motion reflects growing unease within Spain about trade policies that could adversely impact the primary sector—particularly farmers and fishermen—by allowing imports perceived as unfairly competitive or legally questionable.

Vox’s proposal, which gained support from a coalition of parties critical of the EU’s trade direction, outlines a broader strategy to:

• Reduce dependence on non-European imports

• Promote local food production and consumption

• Protect the sovereignty of Spain’s agricultural sector

• Uphold the CJEU’s rulings on territorial integrity and international consent

The vote also underscores growing tension within the EU over its foreign trade practices in politically sensitive regions like Western Sahara. While the European Commission maintains that the deal benefits local populations, critics say it bypasses legitimate representation and violates international legal standards.

Several Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) and human rights organizations have also spoken out against the amendment, calling on the EU to respect its legal obligations and the will of the Sahrawi people, who continue to seek self-determination.

As the European Commission faces backlash from within EU member states, the future of the amended trade deal remains uncertain. Spain’s rejection signals not only a legal challenge, but also a political warning about the risks of sidelining national interests and international law in pursuit of economic agreements.