Other European countries are likely to follow Spain's lead in supporting the Moroccan autonomy initiative in the Sahara, given the Kingdom's geopolitical importance, said former UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, Bernard Miyet.

Spain's new position on the Moroccan Sahara issue gives a powerful impetus to the Moroccan autonomy initiative, said the former Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for the Sahara, Erik Jensen.

A number of European political figures have welcomed Spain's recognition of the autonomy plan proposed by Morocco as the most serious, realistic and credible solution to the regional dispute over the Moroccan Sahara, calling on other European countries to follow suit.

By supporting the autonomy initiative in the Moroccan Sahara, as "the most serious, realistic and credible basis", Spain has adopted a "strategic and courageous" decision to build a "stable, solid, perennial and transparent" relationship with Morocco, underline Spanish media.

The change in the position of the Spanish government, which now supports the Moroccan autonomy initiative to resolve the dispute over the Moroccan Sahara, "was necessary", said former Spanish Interior Minister Jorge Fernandez Diaz.