Morocco-EU Joint Parliamentary Committee Denounces Spain’s Instrumentalization of European Parliament in Bilateral Crisis

The Morocco-European Union Joint Parliamentary Committee, on the Moroccan side, denounced, on Monday, the instrumentalization by Spain of the European Parliament in a bilateral crisis with the Kingdom. A statement read out by the president of the said Committee, Chaoui Belassal, at the end of an emergency meeting dedicated to the resolution of the European Parliament, voted on June 10, and relating to the issue of minors and migration, says that Spain has ignored its responsibility in this area by welcoming the leader of the separatist militias of the Polisario and by increasing the maneuvers against the national causes, including the Moroccan Sahara issue. The meeting of the Committee, held in the presence of its members in the two houses of the parliament, condemned the maneuvers of some parties in the European Parliament aimed at involving the European Union in a bilateral crisis between Morocco and Spain. The members of the Committee also expressed their astonishment following this resolution which is at odds with the depth of the distinguished partnership binding Morocco and the EU, since the Kingdom attaches great importance to the issue of migration and minors and, alongside its European partner, ensures their return and the protection of their rights, in accordance with international charters in this area. This approach, the statement underlines, constitutes a denial of the achievements and gains made by Morocco and the EU, particularly in terms of mutual trust, information sharing and joint action to fight against all forms of terrorism, extremism and illegal migration, in which Morocco plays a pioneering role recognized by all. The Committee insisted, in this regard, on the contradictory nature of this resolution with the positions of the EU and other international institutions which consider Morocco as a strategic partner and model of security, stability and development in a region marked by tensions and instability. The members of the Committee also welcomed the High Royal Instructions aiming at ensuring the final settlement of the issue of unaccompanied minors. They called on their counterparts, on the European side, to activate the Morocco-EU Joint Parliamentary Committee as an institutional mechanism for parliamentary dialogue and joint cooperation on central issues of the bilateral partnership, namely security, stability, the fight against terrorism, extremism, organized crime and human trafficking, in addition to consolidating political, economic and cultural cooperation. The Committee also welcomed the position voiced by MEPs who were not influenced by the maneuvers of some hostile parties, given their conviction of the strength and solidity of the partnership linking the EU to Morocco as a reliable and credible partner, and who did not vote for this resolution which carries several allegations and untruths. The Committee also expressed its esteem and gratitude to the National Parliaments, the Arab and Pan-African Parliaments, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the League of Arab States and the Gulf Cooperation Council, for their solidarity with the Kingdom of Morocco following the resolution of the European Parliament. The Committee stressed that it will continue to work, with its partners in the European Parliament, for the consolidation of achievements, the consecration of Morocco-EU cooperation and partnership relations and the opening up of new perspectives for dialogue and consultation on issues of common interest. In this regard, the Committee has decided to open a direct dialogue with the various political groups represented in the European Parliament in order to deepen the debate on several issues, the statement concludes.