State ignores Morocco’s crisis in EU to save bilateral summit

The government of Pedro Sánchez is thus determined to hold this summit in Brussels amid doubts over Morocco’s image crisis. Country’s involvement in alleged espionage plot and bribery to buy the political will of the EU through the European Parliament, and exert influence in favor of the decision-making of the Community institutions. Qatar was initially pointed to as the main axis of this network of illegal activities in the European Parliament, with the collusion and involvement of representatives including the Vice President, Greek Social Democrat Eva Kalli, after the latest investigation showed that it Also clearly and directly affects the reign of Mohammed VI.

But the desire of the Spanish executive, and especially of its president, Pedro Sánchez Prioritizing bilateral relations with Rabat and advancing this important agenda of interests in that country, will prevent another look at a RAN that has been postponed or suspended on various occasions in recent months due to Moroccan demands in which it should be held. The main one is, obviously, unless there is a commitment on the part of the Spanish government to accept Moroccan principles on the status of Western Sahara for an autonomous solution for the former Spanish colony, something that Sánchez did on 7 April. was confirmed in his interview with the Alaouite emperor. In the memorandum signed by the two countries on that date as well as the previous year, Spain supported this path as “the most serious, realistic and reliable basis for resolving the conflict”.

Since that meeting was held in Rabat, the diplomacy of the two countries has been weaving a web of collusion that has thrown up all kinds of difficulties, including the rejection of a change in the Spanish position on the Sahara by all other political forces in Spain. United We Can, the executive’s minority partner, pulled itself out the following week from RAN and from any ties with the Moroccan government. Despite the large Spanish delegation going to Rabat, this summit, composed of more than ten ministers, will have no representation of the minority partner of the executive, although it is true that most of the issues to be addressed fundamentally affect socialist. ministers.

no canarian presence

summit will be The Canary Islands eventually managed to appear with their own representative. Despite the fact that many of the issues to be discussed directly affect them. It is not even that the regional government has pressed or insisted on it, and in fact no formal request has been made to the Ministry of External Affairs in this regard. In any case, it will oversee the debates or agreements that may be reached on two essential issues related to it, such as the control of irregular immigration on the coasts of the Canary Islands and the establishment of a maritime median between the two countries on the Atlantic coast, aspects of that there are already ongoing working groups (with Canarian representation in the second case). With regard to migration, it is clear that good relations determine the type and level of Rabat’s involvement in controlling the flow and that is why in this first year of diplomatic complication, migrant arrivals have dropped by 30% .

With regard to the delimitation of maritime spaces, Both sides can discuss the terms of negotiations on the boundaries of the continental shelf Which both countries have raised before the United Nations. Morocco’s oil potential near Canary waters and its environmental protection status is another issue the Canary Islands hope the Spanish government will raise with Morocco in this meeting. security and counter-terrorism cooperation; the situation at the Ceuta and Melilla border crossings; trade relations and energy policy; agreements on agriculture and fishing; Or control of the airspace over the Sahara would be other issues to discuss.

The new framework of understanding between Madrid and Rabat is that it allows the RAN to stay out of a serious crisis of Morocco’s image in Brussels and especially in the sphere of the European Parliament, where a resolution was voted last week that restricts access. representatives of this country to the headquarters of the institution during the investigation by Easy Going that in various media, Morocco has already been targeted as the country with the highest level of involvement in the scam, which also includes Mauritania. The fact that this resolution of the European Parliament was approved by 356 votes in favor, 32 against and 42 votes against gives an idea of ​​the concern that exists among parliamentarians about the activity of Moroccan agents in European institutions.

“Swallow Frog”

But what’s most striking about that resolution is that of the 32 votes that rejected it, 17 were with Spanish socialist MEPs, including Juan Fernando López Aguilar of the Canary Islands, who a few days later criticized the party for “flamboyant and highly offensive speeches”. Morocco, its political system, its penal system, its monarchy, its king” which is heard in the Eurochamber, and affirmed that “the only way to relate to that reality is by mutual respect and it must be made, if The saliva or the toad must be swallowed ». Only Iratexe García supported the motion, respecting the position of the group he leads in the Eurochamber. The original agreed text already expressed “deep concern” at the allegations. that the Moroccan authorities have corrupted members of the European Parliament” and called for “implementing similar measures in the case of Qatar’s representatives”. Several MEPs condemned the Moroccan delegates’ visit to Strasbourg that week to vote in favor of the proposal by sending an e-mail to the delegate R asked to stay.

Morocco has denied any involvement in the espionage activities. And the European Parliament and its anti-bribery in parliament issued a statement last Tuesday in which it declared itself “disappointed” by the above resolution, which it assures, “has seriously damaged the trust between the two legislative institutions.” ” It regrets that the EP has “allowed itself to be led by certain hostile circles” in the framework of “a campaign of false accusations directed at a traditional and reliable partner” and “undermining Moroccan interests and its own Condemned the “hostile attempts to malign the image”. The European Union”.

The summit was already scheduled for December 2020, but it was postponed at the last minute on grounds of the pandemic, when in the background was in fact Morocco’s statement on the Spanish position regarding the Sahara following the then US President Donald Trump. There was discontent. Recognized Moroccan sovereignty over the former colony.

According to the joint announcement of 7 April, the appointment should have taken place before the end of 2022, but the two governments to schedule it in early 2023 justified the difficulty of balancing the agenda of so many ministers. In the said declaration, Spain and Morocco put black on white that “issues of common interest will be settled in a spirit of trust, through consultations, without resorting to unilateral acts or actions”. However, this did not prevent a diplomatic tussle from occurring in October, after Rabat learned of a letter sent to the United Nations Human Rights Council, in which he argued that “the Kingdom of Morocco does not have land borders with Spain and Melilla”. An occupied prison remains and for this reason one cannot talk about borders, but about simple points of passage».

It is the institutional and political framework at the European level in which the RAN is being held this week, which both sides try to ignore in order to focus on their bilateral agenda and sign “a good number of agreements”, as The Minister has indicated that the Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albarés, who, along with President Sánchez himself, will lead the Spanish delegation that will travel to the Maghreb capital. The recent incident in Algeciras in which a 25-year-old Moroccan, Yassin Kanza, attacked two churches, killing a holy man and wounding four others, should not be overlooked as the context of the meeting either. , but which the Spanish government has now ruled as a case of “attack for terroristic purposes”, as stated in the order of the investigating judge.