Moroccan authorities expelled Thursday 4 Members of the European Parliament and two of their aides after they tried to Laayoune with out official authorization, a go to described as “provocative” and aimed toward pursuing a separatist agenda.
MEPs, together with Anna-Kati Lemström, Jussi Saram, Isabel Serra Sánchez, Katarina Martins, and others, tried to use their parliamentary standing to conduct an unsanctioned mission within the Sahara.
“This latest maneuver, coming from individuals known for supporting fallacious ideas, in no way represents the European legislative institution, nor is it worthy of the noble role of an MEP,” sources near the matter informed Hespress EN.
The European Parliament had issued tips prohibiting its members from enterprise missions on behalf of the Parliament in third international locations with no mandate or determination from the establishment.
Their go to coincided with the initially scheduled arrival of the President of the European Commission to Morocco on February 20, which has now been rescheduled to a later date.
The determination to expel them falls inside Morocco’s dedication to defending its sovereignty and rejecting any makes an attempt at exterior interference in its inner affairs, particularly those who contradict the official channels of cooperation between Morocco and the European Union.
The incident highlights a broader development of makes an attempt by sure European lawmakers, who’re identified for his or her help of separatist actions, to destabilize Morocco’s territorial integrity, sources mentioned.
Relations between the Moroccan Parliament and the European Parliament are good, particularly following the assembly between the President of the Moroccan Parliament, Mr. Rachid Talbi Alami, and the President of the European Parliament, Mrs. Roberta Metsola, final December.
Mechanisms and channels for change exist between the 2 Parliaments, notably the Joint Parliamentary Committee accountable for managing all issues associated to the connection between the 2 establishments.