Danish Company halts all its trading activities in occupied Western Sahara

Danish Company “Danske Vilsalt” has decided to comply with the decision of the European Court of Justice regarding the rescinded trade agreement between the EU and Morocco, by stopping all its trading activities in the occupied part of Western Sahara, sources close the file announced on Thursday.

The Danish company, which imports salt from the occupied Saharawi territories in the context of trade relations with Morocco decided this week to formally put an end to all its commercial activities in the occupied part of Western Sahara in compliance with the relevant decision of the European Court of Justice.

In December 2016, the European Court of Justice cancelled the EU-Morocco trade agreement. Morocco used the accord to sell goods from occupied Sahrawi territories, which is strictly illegal under international law and regulations.

As a recall, the Danish parliament of late voted unanimously to warn Danish companies and municipalities against engaging in trading activities with Morocco in occupied Western Sahara.

A cross-party motion was backed by 112 members of the Folketinget present, from a total of 179 seats. None voted against or abstained.

Mr. Christian Juhl, a green-left MP that initiated the motion, told EU observer his peers were all greatly worried that Morocco’s long-running occupation of Western Sahara was getting worse.

The MP also highlighted human rights concerns.

”Morocco is systematically flouting the human rights of the oppressed Sahrawi people. Rabat has taken captive arbitrarily numerous pro-independence Sahrawi activists, some have been in prison for 20 years without ever being put before court,” Mr. Juhl pointed out.

”In February, three Danish journalists who came to see the situation in Western Sahara for themselves were expelled by Moroccan authorities,” he added.

Denmark’s foreign minister Mr. Kristian Jensen participated in a parliamentary debate that preceded the vote. He said the Danish government will promote knowledge about the worrying situation in occupied Western Sahara with interest groups such as the confederation of Danish industries.

“We want Danish companies to know and live up to the decisions that the parliament implements,” Mr Jensen told MPs.

Mr. Christian Juhl said that Danish companies and municipalities should not take the risk of breaking international law.

“Human rights must be respected in occupied Western Sahara. It is illegal to buy goods from or invest in occupied territories”, he underlined.

In December 2016, the European Court of Justice cancelled an EU-Morocco trade agreement. Morocco used the accord to sell goods from occupied Sahrawi territories, which is strictly illegal under international law and regulations.

Mr Juhl hopes that Denmark will take up the vacant leadership role in defending Western Sahara’s vital interests in the EU.

”I will raise the issue in the Nordic council and the Nordic council of ministers,” Mr Juhl said, referring to the cooperation bodies that unite MPs and ministers from Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, in addition to his native Denmark.