EU Backs Western Sahara Process Led by Donald Trump

The United States‑led process at the United Nations is based on Morocco’s proposal concerning the former Spanish colony.

The European Union reiterated on Monday its support for a United Nations‑led process in Western Sahara “based on Morocco’s proposal,” after the Security Council gave its approval on Friday to a U.S.‑drafted resolution backing the Moroccan autonomy plan for the former Spanish territory.

In this regard, EU foreign policy spokesperson Anouar El Anouni emphasized that the European position calls for a UN‑led political process that achieves a “fair, lasting and mutually acceptable solution to the conflict” and that is grounded in “Morocco’s autonomy proposal and in accordance with the United Nations Charter.”

He clarified that the EU’s common stance does not prejudice the individual positions of its member states.

The European spokesperson also welcomed the resolution’s provision to extend the mandate of the UN mission MINURSO for another year.

“The EU welcomes the extension of the MINURSO mandate until 31 October 2026 and is ready to support the negotiations carried out by the Secretary‑General’s personal envoy, Staffan de Mistura, in line with the UN Security Council resolution,” he said.

Regarding the Security Council resolution, Moroccan King Mohammed VI declared in a national address that Morocco is opening a “new and victorious chapter in the process of affirming the Moroccan identity of the Sahara” to “finally put an end to this artificial conflict.”

The king urged Sahrawi refugees in Tindouf (Algeria) to seize the “historic opportunity to reunite with their families and benefit from the Moroccan plan, which allows them to contribute to the development of their homeland and to the building of their future in a united Morocco.”

Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony, was occupied by Morocco in 1975 despite resistance from the Polisario Front, with whom it fought until 1991 when both sides signed a cease‑ pending a self‑determination referendum. Disagreements over the census and the inclusion of Moroccan settlers have so far prevented the referendum from being held. The Polisario’s main historical backer is Algeria, which hosts about 140,000 refugees in the Tindouf camps.

The latest setback for the Sahrawis was the support of the Spanish and French governments for the Moroccan autonomy plan—a shift the Polisario labeled a betrayal, noting that Spain remains, de jure, the administering power of Western Sahara. The United States also backs the Moroccan autonomy plan, and in 2020 former President Donald Trump signed the recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over the disputed territory.