The European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, reaffirmed the bloc's support for Morocco's autonomy plan for the Western Sahara during an official visit to Rabat on Thursday, April 17, 2026. The EU considers the Moroccan proposal as a "serious and credible" basis for resolving the long-standing territorial dispute.
Borrell's statement, made alongside Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, aligns with the EU's established position. The 27-member bloc has consistently backed UN-led efforts to find a "mutually acceptable political solution" to the conflict, which has persisted for decades since Spain withdrew from the territory in 1975.
The Polisario Front, which seeks full independence for the region it calls the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), rejects the autonomy plan and insists on a referendum on self-determination. The United Nations continues to list Western Sahara as a non-self-governing territory, with its peacekeeping mission, MINURSO, monitoring a ceasefire.
This diplomatic endorsement comes amid ongoing efforts to deepen the EU-Morocco partnership, particularly in areas of trade, energy, and migration. The EU views Morocco as a key strategic ally in North Africa.
