The Position of the European Union on the Western Sahara Conflict
The Western Sahara conflict has been embedded in a regional struggle with international implications, involving most of the key regional actors, as well as outside powers seeking to balance their interests with all parties concerned. Thus, the Western Sahara is at the centre of any foreign policy towards the Maghreb region, and this is the case for the European Union, with France and Spain as central actors. For Europe, the historical links with and the proximity of the continent to one of the most unstable regions in the world (the Arab and Muslim worlds) require the closest attention and a strong independent foreign policy. The EU has important strategic and economic interests but also political concerns in the North Africa region. This paper focuses on the evolution of EU policy towards the conflict and the actions taken by the Member States under the influence of the key actors in this issue: France and Spain. It also aims to lay the emphasis upon the limited role of the EU due to a complex policy making-process, as well as the existence of many participants. As will be demonstrated, the weaknesses of the EU foreign policy are not only due to the structure of the Union but also as a result of each state having to defend its own interests and preserve them bilaterally. It will be argued that the conflict resolution, if conducted to its conclusion within the UN framework, would provide the EU with a capacity to resolve conflicts within the international system and an opportunity to affirm its intrinsic external policy, when its overall foreign policy appears scattered if not atomised by the different influences pursued by its member states. Considering the Maghreb's geographical proximity to Europe and the general approach to solving issues at the EU level, this could constitute a breakthrough for an external policy in the making, contrasting with the negligible influence of the EU regarding the Middle East peace process.
Morocco, Western Sahara and the future of the Maghrib
Four years after the death of King Hassan II, it is necessary to assess the domestic situation in Morocco and also to analyse the question of Western Sahara, a conflict that is often neglected. Undoubtedly, the conflict has domestic, regional and international implications for the Kingdom of Morocco. The early months of his successor's rule suggested that rapid change was on its way. The reality, however, is that, after an initial flurry of activity, the political scene, both in the domestic and foreign spheres, appears to have stagnated. The result is that one dominant issue, that of Western Sahara, is still unresolved and is beginning to create a major problem in terms of Morocco's foreign policy. This article examines the implications.
The Illustrated Story of Copyright
PART 1: COPYRIGHT AND TECHNOLOGY - Books and Other Literary Works - Music and Sound Recordings - Movies and Television - The Computer - The Internet - PART 2: COPYRIGHT BASICS - What Does Copyright Protect? - What Does Copyright Grant? - Copyright Limitations, Exclusions, and Compromises? - Other Major Copyright Principles - International Copyright Relations