Revived agreement maintains controversial termsAccording to Danwatch, the new agreement builds on a 2019 text and will continue allowing imports of products from Morocco’s Western Sahara region. The court maintained that Western Sahara holds a separate legal status from Morocco under international law. The courts have consistently held that Western Sahara remains a “non-autonomous territory” under international law, distinct from Morocco, despite Rabat’s administrative control. Shifting diplomatic landscapeThe EU’s approach to Western Sahara takes place against a backdrop of major diplomatic shifts that have strengthened Morocco’s position. In December 2020, the US recognized Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara, a decision that fundamentally altered the international consensus on the dispute.