The European Union has adopted a new collective position on the Sahara, saying that “genuine autonomy could represent one of the most viable solutions” to the long-running regional dispute, according to a joint statement issued Thursday at the conclusion of the 15th EU-Morocco Association Council meeting.
The position, endorsed by all 27 EU member states, was included in a joint declaration signed by Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas at the end of the meeting in Brussels.
In the statement, the EU said it supports the United Nations Security Council’s call for all parties to engage in negotiations “without preconditions and in good faith, on the basis of the autonomy plan proposed by Morocco,” with the aim of reaching a final political settlement to the dispute.
The EU also welcomed Morocco’s stated willingness to clarify how autonomy would be implemented under Moroccan sovereignty, the joint statement said.
The declaration further praised the U.N. Security Council’s adoption of Resolution 2797 in 2025, which fully supports the efforts of the U.N. secretary-general and his personal envoy to facilitate negotiations based on Morocco’s autonomy proposal.
While several EU member states had previously expressed individual support for Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara and its autonomy initiative, the new position marks the first time the bloc has articulated a unified stance endorsing autonomy as a credible path to resolving the conflict.
The development comes amid a broader international momentum in favor of Morocco’s position on the Sahara, driven by diplomatic initiatives led by King Mohammed VI and reinforced by the Security Council’s adoption of Resolution 2797 on Oct. 31, 2025.
The EU’s unified endorsement is expected to give new impetus to EU-Morocco relations and upcoming bilateral engagements, particularly as both sides seek to establish a renewed strategic partnership.
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