Tags : Morocco, Western Sahara, European Union, airspace, aviation agreement, Ryanair, Transavia, Binter,
Lynn Boylan, europarliamentarian of The Left submitted in November 19, 2024 the following question to the European Commission :
In November 2018, the Court of Justice of the European Union ruled that the Euro-Mediterranean aviation agreement between the EU and Morocco[1] does not apply to Western Sahara. On 14 November 2024, Ryanair announced that it will be commencing flights to Dakhla (a city in the territory of Western Sahara). Ryanair’s media announcement claimed the city was within the Kingdom of Morocco and the announcement of these routes has been welcomed by the Moroccan Government.
Can the Commission confirm that:
- Ryanair has been informed that the benefits of the Euro-Mediterranean aviation agreement between the EU and Morocco do not apply to this new route?
- European companies should refrain from advertising a territory as being part of a country which does not have sovereignty over this territory?
- As a Europe-based company, Ryanair has been advised of the specific obligations with which it must comply as a result of operating within an occupied territory?
Monday, Mr Tzitzikostas on behalf of The European Commission, gave the following answer :
« On 3 December 2024 during the meeting on the Consultative Forum on EU External Aviation Policy, the Commission informed EU carriers that, in accordance with the case law of the Court of Justice of the European Union[1], the Euro-Mediterranean aviation agreement between the EU and Morocco does not apply to routes from the territory of an EU Member State to the territory of the Western Sahara ».
Last Sunday, Ryanair inaugurated a new flight from Madrid to Dakhla. Three Spanish nationals who were expelled by the Moroccan authorities were travelling on the flight.
According to Moroccan press sources, the director general of Ryanair, Eddie Wilson, visited Dakhla airport last November, an event which was denounced by the Polisario Front. Currently, Transavia, a subsidiary of the Air France-KLM group, and the Spanish company Binter operate flights to El Ayoun and Dakhla, respectively from Paris and the Canary Islands.
#Morocco #WesternSahara #Aviation #AerialSpace #Ryanair #EuropeanUnion