The European Parliament has approved an updated air agreement with Morocco, excluding the Western Sahara region.

Despite a clear legal interpretation that the agreement does not apply to the Western Sahara, several European airlines continue to operate flights to the occupied territory.

Western Sahara Resource Watch (WSRW) notes that some MEPs supported the updated protocol because it adapts the existing agreement following Croatia’s accession to the EU, while ignoring the Western Sahara region.

The European Commission has repeatedly confirmed this interpretation and informed airlines that, in line with EU law, the air transport agreement ‘does not apply to routes linking a Member State’s territory to the Western Sahara territory.’

Despite this, several European airlines continue to operate flights to the occupied territory, including Ryanair, which recently launched flights from EU airports to Dakhla.

WSRW has contacted KLM-Air France and Air Arabia without response. The situation raises concerns about the application of EU law in the Western Sahara region.