The European Parliament, which convened its plenary session in Strasbourg from October 7-10, rejected a proposal by some separatist supporters to include a discussion on European Court of Justice rulings concerning the fisheries and agriculture agreements between Morocco and the European Union.
The proposal, introduced by the Left group— was dismissed by a majority of MEPs across all political factions.
The rejection follows a joint statement by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU High Representative Josep Borrell, reaffirming the EU’s commitment to strengthening its close relations with Morocco in all areas.
Over various legislative terms, Morocco has increasingly drawn the attention of the European Parliament, especially during the 6th and 7th terms, when the focus shifted from support to outright hostility.
A key moment came in 2004, when a resolution called for the release of Moroccan prisoners held by the Polisario, highlighting significant parliamentary engagement. However, this interest eventually morphed into adversarial sentiment, culminating in a 2010 resolution on the Western Sahara situation.
Opposition to the Morocco-EU Agricultural and Fisheries Agreements grew, with some MEPs advocating for annulment on legal and ecological grounds, ultimately leading to the rejection of the Fisheries Protocol in 2011.
This hostility is largely fueled by a pro-Polisario lobby that actively integrates the Western Sahara issue into various parliamentary resolutions and campaigns against Morocco’s agreements.
The entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty in 2009, which expanded MEPs’ legislative powers, further entrenched this anti-Moroccan sentiment, particularly among representatives from Spain, Italy, and Nordic countries. While groups like the European United Left and the Greens strongly oppose Morocco, some conservative factions also dissent.
This has led to the formation of the “Western Sahara Intergroup,” which collaborates with organizations like “Independent Diplomat,” amplifying their influence within the European Parliament.
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