The European Parliament has urged the Moroccan authorities to respect freedom of expression and media freedom and to provide a fair trial for the imprisoned journalist Omar Radi. MEPs have called for his immediate provisional release and demand an end to the harassment of all journalists in the country, as well as of their lawyers and families.
MEPs said they are concerned about allegations that the Moroccan authorities have corrupted Members of the European Parliament and have called for the application of the same measures as applied to representatives of Qatar.
Their opinions were embodied in a parliamentary resolution adopted by 356 votes in favour, 32 against with 42 abstentions. The resolution adopted by the EP was initiated by the parliamentary group “Renew Europe” close to the party in power in France. This drew a sharp rebuke from the Moroccan Parliament which accused the EP of trying to establish a sort of neocolonial tutelage over the rule of law, institutions and the independence of justice in Morocco.
French MEPs came under particular criticism, as they were regarded as having instigated the text of the resolution, especially Stéphane Séjourné, whom they regard as the missus dominici of the French President Emmanuel Macron in the European Parliament.
The Moroccan Parliament made a point of expressing its disappointment with the negative position and the unconstructive role played during the debates and consultations on the subject of the draft resolution, by certain political groups in France which they have hitherto regarded as historical trusted partners of Morocco.
The Moroccan Parliament deplored this behaviour which they regard as contrary to the sincerity and loyalty required by the spirit of partnership between the EU and Morocco. The Moroccan legislative institution rejected the instrumentalisation and politicisation of cases falling within the jurisdiction of criminal justice and common law.
Diplomatic sources in Rabat expressed dismay that the EP resolution has deliberately bypassed all the institutional mechanisms for dialogue and coordination, which had been created precisely to serve as a framework for dialogue and frank and inclusive debate, in the spirit of partnership and mutual respect.
The Moroccan Parliament has called for the rejection of any deliberate amalgamation between human rights, protected in Morocco by the Constitution, laws and institutions, on the one hand, and the allegations conveyed by certain known parties and organisations for their hostile and dogmatic positions against Morocco.
Josep Borrell and Nasser Bourrita
Only two weeks ago Josep Borrell met with the Prime Minister of Morocco and with the Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Moroccan capital, to develop and strengthen partnership and cooperation between the EU and Morocco.
But after this recent unwelcome Parliamentary demarche in Strasbourg, clearly much work now needs to be done to repair the damage to the bilateral relationship caused by this destructive French sponsored political torpedo.
