Morocco-EU Joint Parliamentary Committee Holds Series of Meetings at the European Parliament in Strasbourg on March 8-10 and Brussels on March 15-17, 2022

As part of deepening consultation and discussion with the European side, the members of the Morocco-EU Joint Parliamentary Committee, chaired by Cllr. Lahcen Haddad, held a series of meetings at the European Parliament in Strasbourg on March 8-10, and Brussels on March 15-17, 2022.

In this regard, the Moroccan parliamentary delegation of the Morocco-EU Joint Parliamentary Committee held talks with 34 European deputies from various political groups, including Marco Zanni, Chair of the Identity and Democracy Group; Malik Azmani, First Vice-Chair of the Renew Europe Group; Maria Arena, Chair of the Subcommittee on Human Rights at the European Parliament; Andrea Cozzolino, Chair of the Delegation for relations with the Maghreb Countries and the Arab Maghreb Union, including the EU-Morocco Joint Parliamentary Committee; Emmanuel Maurel, the Vice-Chair of the Delegation for relations with the Maghreb Countries and the Arab Maghreb Union; Carlos Zorrinho, Chair of the Delegation to the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly; Nora Mbarek, Vice-Chair of the Committee on Regional Development; Jan Zahradil, Vice-Chair of the Committee on International Trade; Lukas Mandll, Vice-Chair of the Subcommittee on Security and Defense; Tomáš ZDECHOVSKÝ, Vice-Chair of the Committee on Budgetary Control; and Søren GADE, Vice-Chair of the Committee on Fisheries.

In this respect, the parties expressed their mutual will to pursue the Morocco-Europe dialogue. They also stressed the importance of finding joint solutions to the challenges and threats the two parties face in order to give new impetus to the relations linking the Kingdom of Morocco to the European Union and conduct joint action to advance the European Neighboring Policy, by utilizing the available cooperation opportunities to reach sustainable security and mutual prosperity.

During these meetings, the Chairperson of the Morocco-EU Joint Parliamentary Committee, Cllr. Lahcen Haddad, called for consolidating the EU-Morocco construction process by adopting an approach that aims to establish stronger bonds that can promote mutual development, especially in the area of renewable energies, peace, security, agriculture, maritime fisheries, migration, Sahel development, fighting organized crime, and combatting transnational crime and terrorism. He also underscored the importance of taking cognizance of all the aspects of the Morocco-Europe partnership, as well as the increasing dangers and security threats that face it. In addition, the Moroccan Parliamentarian noted the imperative of joining forces under a participatory proactive approach to address the hazards that menace the Euro-Mediterranean region.

On the same note, the European deputies lauded the role of the Morocco-EU Joint Parliamentary Committee and its efforts in converging views and exchanging expertise between the two sides, which would consolidate partnership and uplift the performance of parliamentary diplomacy.

On another note, the members of the Parliamentary Committee seized this opportunity to address the maneuvers that endanger the territorial integrity of our country and threaten the distinguished partnership between the Kingdom of Morocco and the European Union, a partnership built upon mutual respect and adherence to the international covenants and concluded agreements, under the advanced status of the Morocco-EU partnership. In the same vein, the European parliamentarians were informed of the action made by the Subcommittee on Human Rights at the European Parliament and the Committee on International Trade regarding the convention of a joint hearing, chaired by the Subcommittee on Human Rights on “Occupied and non-autonomous territories,” to create confusion between the occupied Palestinian territories and the question of the Moroccan Sahara.

After informing several European parliamentarians, members of these two committees, the Moroccan delegation held talks with the Chair of the Subcommittee on Human Rights, Maria Arena, and the Rapporteur of the Committee on International Trade, Kathleen VAN BREMPT, where they expressed their indignation and total rejection of this unjustified and unneutral step, which was also disapproved of by the external services and the International Trade Administration at the European Union, who refused to take part in it.

Amidst the debate during the said biased and fallacious hearing, numerous European parliamentarians noted their regret and discontent at the convention of such meetings that would create confusion, and that do not respect objectivity and impartiality that characterize the European Union and the international Community. They also condemned this irresponsible doing, which reflects a bias that contradicts the position of the European Union with regard to the question of the Moroccan Sahara.

At last, and in response to the actions taken by the Morocco-EU Joint Parliamentary Committee with the European Parliament to omit the flag of the phantom republic from the European Parliament’s portal, the Committee was informed of the official restructuring of the portal and the immediate omission of the phantom flag, in addition to the adoption of the emblem of the African Parliament.

As regards the stimulation of the action of the Morocco-EU Joint Parliamentary Committee with the European side, the Chairpersons of the Committee, Cllr. Lahcen Haddad, and his European counterpart, Mr. Andrea Cozzolino, agreed on implementing the action of the joint subcommittees starting March 21, 2022, and the elaboration of the necessary recommendations for the upcoming semi-annual and annual meetings, to be held at the European Parliament in Brussels on May 12, 2022.

The following parliamentarians took part in the two missions:

-      Chairperson of the Committee, Cllr. Lahcen Haddad (Istiqlali Group of Unity and Egalitarianism at the House of Councilors);

-      Rep. Hicham Ait Mana and Rep. Zeina Chahime (Group of the National Rally of Independents);

-      Cllr. Khemmar Mrabet (Chairperson of the Group of Authenticity and Modernity at the House of Councilors);

-      Rep. Salaheddine Abou El Ghali and Rep. Fatima zahra Bentaleb (Group of Authenticity and Modernity);

-      Rep. Abdelmajid Fassi Fihri (Istiqlali Group of Unity and Egalitarianism);

-      Rep. Hassan Lachgar (Socialist Group);

-      Rep. Chaoui Belassal (Chairperson of the Constitutional, Democratic and Social Group);

-      Rep. Ahmed El Abbadi (Group of Progress and Socialism);

-      Cllr. Mbarek Sbai (Chairperson of the Haraki Group at the House of Councilors);

-      Mr. Mounir Jaffali (Diplomatic advisor at the House of Representatives).

Chairperson of the Morocco-EU Joint Parliamentary Committee

Lahcen Haddad