Arab Parliament Rejects EU Resolution on Morocco

Arab World

June 27th, 6:57am

Rabat - Asharq Al-Awsat

A migrant climbs a breakwater after crossing the Spanish-Moroccan border in the presence of a Spanish civil guard in Ceuta, Spain, May 17, 2021. Reduan Ben Zakouor/El Faro de Ceuta/Handout via REUTERS

The Arab Parliament on Saturday rejected the European Parliament’s resolution regarding Morocco’s policy on the migration issue. During an emergency meeting held Saturday in Cairo, the Parliament stressed that EU's decision and the false criticism and baseless accusations contained blackmail and unacceptable politicization of Morocco’s efforts to tackle the migration problem. The Arab Parliament denounced “the intervention of the European Parliament and its insistence on interfering in a bilateral crisis between Morocco and Spain, which can be resolved through diplomatic means and direct bilateral negotiations.” It also praised the restless efforts made by Morocco in the fight against illegal immigration, which stems from a strong political will and the directions of King Mohammed VI, as leader of the African Union on the issue of migration. The Parliament further urged the crystallization of a unified and integrated Arab action plan to counter such irresponsible positions of the European Parliament, and in a way that guarantees respect for the sovereignty of the Arab countries and non-interference in its affairs. It also called on the Inter-Parliamentary Union, the Mediterranean Parliament, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean and all regional parliaments to reject and condemn this decision, which contradicts the internationally recognized rules of parliamentary diplomacy. President of the Arab Parliament Adel Abdel Rahmane Al-Asoumi recalled that the European Parliament’s resolution “included false criticism and false accusations,” and revealed a “blatant paradox,” as the EU depends heavily on Moroccan cooperation on its own immigration priorities. “The Speaker of the Arab Parliament demanded that Arab reactions not stop at the limits of rejection, condemnation, and denunciation,” the statement affirmed. Chairman of the Saudi Shura Council's Foreign Affairs Committee and member of the Arab parliament Assaf bin Salem Abu Thinain said that the European Parliament’s recent decision was a continuation of its irresponsible approach, which included baseless criticism and accusations.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/3049571/arab-parliament-rejects-eu-resolution-morocco