Court of Justice Ruling on Western Sahara Reveals EU’s Mixed Signals

The Polish Institute of International Affairs is an analytical institution established by an act of Parliament in 1996 to carry out research and provide expertise in international affairs. PISM disseminates information on contemporary international issues and maintains contacts with academic and political centres in Poland and abroad. The Institute runs courses for public servants, maintains a library (open to the public; 165,000 books and journals), organises conferences, and publishes books, periodicals and documents on Polish foreign policy and international matters.

The funding for PISM comes from the budget. The director is appointed by the prime minister for a term of five years, following consultation with the minister of foreign affairs. The minister supervises the Institute and appoints its advisory council, which includes a representative of the President of the Republic of Poland, academics and officials.A Court of Justice judgment appeared to have not resolved a dispute over the application of EU trade agreements with Morocco to occupied territory in Western Sahara. It confirmed, however, that the EU had not developed trade policy in relation to occupied and separatist areas that would be in line with international law. The absence of such policy negatively affected EU diplomacy and the coherence of its foreign policy, particularly in the field of sanctions. Poland could propose a review of the application of EU trade agreements to contested areas.