Brussels, April 28, 2016 (SPS) - The European Commission rejected once again the false allegations on the embezzlement of humanitarian aid destined to the Sahrawi refugees and the overestimation of their number when calculating the financial aid provided by the European Union (EU).
“It is not up to the European Union to carry out a census of refugees,” wrote commissioner of the European Commission in charge of humanitarian aid and crisis management Christos Stylianides in a reply to Euro-MP Hugues Bayet, known for his close ties with Morocco.
According to the European commissioner “this issue must be examined as part of a process led by the United Nations,” ensuring that “EU will refrain from any action that can jeopardize this process, but continue to encourage the parties looking for a negotiated solution to the conflict.”
Stylianides reiterated, on this occasion, EU’s unreserved support to the “efforts made by UN secretary general to reach a fair, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution to the conflict in Western Sahara.”
While broaching the management and supply of humanitarian aid, the European commissioner has made scathing refutation to the embezzlement allegations, constantly trotted out by Morocco which persists in its diversion and attempts aimed at diverting the opinion on the occupation situation it exerts in the Sahrawi territories and the need to resume the conflict settlement process in accordance with the requirements of the international law.SPS
125/090/700