Brussels, Nov 7, 2013 (SPS) - The Spanish member of the European Parliament Mr. Raül Romeva said that the EU-Morocco’s fisheries agreement is illegal because it violates international law, highlighting that Morocco seeks to gain “European political support” to its occupation of Western Sahara.
“What Morocco wants is not a fishing agreement, as much as it seeks to gain a European political support to his occupation of Western Sahara,” said the Spanish parliamentarian, noting that the European Parliament, Fisheries and Agriculture Committee and some governments, in particular Spain and France, are trying to force the MEP to approve the agreement.
He also stated that according to the requirements of international law and legitimacy, the territorial waters of Western Sahara should be excluded from the EU-Morocco fisheries pact, as did the United States in its trade agreements with Morocco.
Mr. Romeva went on saying that the opinion and benefit of the Saharawi people from the agreement is a key issue, adding that the Polisario Front, sole legitimate representative of the Saharawi people, have not been contacted or consulted in this matter.
European governments and the Committee, he added, seek to provide a political favour for Morocco by dealing with it politically through fishing file. (SPS)
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