Opinion

EU-Morocco Resolution: European blunder and hidden interests

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The echoes of the resolution passed a few days ago in the European Parliament against Morocco, which, among other things, urged to "respect freedom of expression and press", are still resounding. A non-binding resolution that does not imply that the EU should do anything concrete, but that hides a strange whiff that is certainly suspicious and could well lead to unexpected consequences for the EU.


The truth is that it is not very usual for the European Parliament to promote this type of controversy towards Morocco, especially due to the strategic relations that the EU maintains with the Alawi kingdom, hence the strange and unusual. Although this time it has occurred in a particular context: the corruption scandal in the European Parliament for the so-called Qatargate.


This resolution had a quick response from the Moroccan institutions. First of all, from the Moroccan Supreme Council of the Judiciary, the Council of the Moroccan Community Abroad, or the National Press Council. And finally, as expected from the Moroccan parliament itself, from where it was declared that "we strongly condemn the hostile attempts to damage the interests, the image of Morocco and the long-standing relations between Morocco and the European Union". Even the Arab parliament expressed its displeasure, calling the European Parliament's attitude in Morocco's internal affairs "continued flagrant interference".

During the session of the Moroccan parliament, expressions such as "neocolonialism" or "superiority complex" were heard, and where the parliamentarians themselves alluded to the double standards of the MEPs, recalling how Brussels does not condemn other human rights abuses, such as those suffered by refugees in Tindouf by the Polisario Front. Finally, as expected, the Moroccan parliament took the decision to "reconsider relations with the European Parliament by submitting them to a global re-evaluation with a view to taking firm and appropriate decisions".


At this point, it would not be out of place to remind Europe that, before giving lessons from the so-called first world, with a certain superiority complex and arrogance, it should look more often to its own backyard. We can recall the recent Resolution of the European Parliament of September 15, 2022, which spoke of the existence of a clear risk of a serious violation by Hungary of the values on which the Union is based, especially in the field of human rights. Or the ruling of the Court of Justice of the European Union against Poland for undermining its judicial independence and the separation of powers. Something which, by the way, we in Spain cannot boast much about either.


The Socialist MEP and President of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs of the EU, Juan Fernando López Aguilar, also put the spotlight on the suspiciousness of this resolution. First, he stood firm in his support for the link with the Kingdom of Morocco, which he referred to as "can only be built on mutual respect, swallowing toads if necessary", while rejecting the decision of the European Parliament.


But then he accused the movers of the resolution of having recently heard "flaming and very offensive speeches against Morocco" in the European institutions. Against Morocco and its entire institutional framework, from its political and judicial system to its monarchy. "It is senseless that any person with government responsibility could use such language. Would they accept to see on television ruthless interventions against Spain abroad? Wouldn't they think that something smells like a burnt horn?
 

This last statement by López Aguilar coincides with what I raised at the beginning of this article. That strange whiff that there is something else behind all this beyond the apparent Qatargate. In this matter the European Parliament is only an instrument, and the role of France and its relations with Algeria are evident in this instrumentalization. A real war of influence where it seems that anything goes. Behind this motion, apart from the European left, is the center-liberal parliamentary Eurogroup 'Renew Europe' and the 'Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance'. As for the former, it is a group with great French influence, where more than a quarter of its components are Gallic deputies (most specifically from the Renaissance party, to which President Macron belongs). As for the latter, they include among their members two French MEPs of Algerian origin, Karima Delli and Salima Yenbou, traditional scourges of Morocco in Brussels, with regular condemnations in their Euro-parliamentary interventions.


President Macron's unfinished business with Morocco in connection with the Pegasus affair, his failure to explicitly support the war in Ukraine, or the progressive distancing of the French sphere in favor of the bloc formed by the United States and Israel could be, among others, some of the causes of this blunder. And if these outstanding accounts can be settled surreptitiously, using the EU as a screen without having to show one's face, the move is perfect. Also Algeria's own rapprochement with France, in the heat of the weakening of its traditional ally Russia on account of its mediocre performance in Ukraine, with the consequent attempt of Algerian rapprochement with the West. Or vice versa, due to the constant increase in Algeria's defense spending and the economic interests that this entails.

That 'vice versa' is not a gratuitous statement, it was Emmanuel Macron himself who recently said about Franco-Algerian relations that "France cannot think of itself without Algeria and vice versa". If this rapprochement goes through trying to weaken the awkward Moroccan neighbor in the eyes of Europe with French support, the Algerians will be delighted. But the miscalculation undermining the very important relations of the EU with Morocco, neighbor and strategic partner for Spain and Europe, is extremely serious at all levels. And in this, the clumsiness of the Eurogroup in bringing forward this unnecessary resolution is unparalleled. We will see the consequences.