Morocco prevents pro-Polisario European lawmakers from entering country

RABAT - Moroccan authorities deported on Thursday four members of the European Parliament and two of their companions who support the separatist Polisario Front after they attempted to enter the city of Laayoune illegally, in a move described as "provocative."

This behaviour, which contradicts the legal controls regulating the entry of foreigners into the Moroccan territory, prompted the intervention of local authorities in Laayoune to take preventive measures, stressing that "respect for national sovereignty remains a red line that cannot be crossed under any pretext."

Anna Kati Lemstrom and Jussi Antero Saramo, members of parliament for the Finnish party "the Left Alliance", and Isabel Serra Sánchez, member of the Spanish party "Podemos", and Catarina Martins, member of the Portuguese Socialist Party "Left Bloc", in addition to Pablo Quesada Martin, assistant to the vice president of the Left Group in the European Parliament, along with another person in charge of communication who accompanied them on this trip.

The deported politicians tried to exploit their parliamentary status to implement an agenda known for its support for separatist theses, without any official authorization from the European Parliament, which is in conflict with the laws regulating official visits.

Despite their parliamentary status, they entered the southern regions without any official authorization from the European Parliament, exploiting their parliamentary status to try to impose a unilateral agenda, as this step does not reflect the official position of the European legislative institution, which has previously issued directives prohibiting its members from carrying out external visits or missions without prior authorization or coordination.

This move comes at a time when Moroccan-European relations are experiencing positive dynamics, especially after the meeting between the Speaker of the Moroccan House of Representatives, Rachid Talbi Alami, and the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, last December, where the importance of dialogue and cooperation between the two institutions was emphasised.

The deportation decision falls within the framework of Morocco's exercise of its national sovereignty and its rejection of all attempts at external interference in its internal affairs, especially those that conflict with the official channels of cooperation between Morocco and the European Union.

This incident is part of repeated attempts to create artificial tensions, especially since it coincided with the original date of the expected visit of the President of the European Commission before it was decided to postpone it to a later date. 

These methods also conflict with the official mechanisms adopted by the Joint Parliamentary Committee regarding following up on all issues related to bilateral relations.