The Algerian regime’s diplomatic failures continue incessantly. This series continued with a painful blow being received in the European Parliament. After the Algerian regime angered the European Parliament due to the arrest of 80-year-old writer Boualem Sansal, in violation of international human rights laws that Algeria had previously ratified, the latter this time received a severe blow within the European Parliament itself.
On November 12, the Committee of Presidents of the European Parliament announced the end of the existence of the controversial “Western Sahara” group, which for twenty years had embraced European representatives entirely dedicated to serving the Polisario cause, which is a product of the Algerian regime. This decision is scheduled to be formally published in the plenary session next week.
This decision finally puts an end to the existence of a group of a suspicious nature, which has been the subject of criticism due to its repeated violations of the rules of the European Parliament, especially its clear interference in areas that do not belong to it. This step is a strong blow to the anti-Moroccan propaganda promoted by the Algerian regime, in addition to obstructing its hidden diplomatic attempts.
The utility of parliamentary groups in the European Parliament
Parliamentary groups in the European Parliament are governed by Rule 35 of the Rules of Procedure, which states that they are “places for the informal exchange of views on specific topics between different political groups, members of Parliament and civil society.” From this standpoint, representatives can join one or another group, according to an individual approach and without mandatory assignment, with the aim of gaining or enhancing expertise on a particular issue, responding to a particular development, or thinking about drafting future legal texts by listening to “interested parties.”
Over the years, parliamentary groups have been established dedicated to diverse issues and topics, such as disability, cancer, biodiversity and socio-economics, all within the structured framework of the European Parliament headquarters in Strasbourg, where they meet during plenary sessions.
The story of a foretold death
Among the 27 parliamentary groups in the last parliamentary session, the “Western Sahara” group emerged as the successor to its predecessor, “Peace for the Sahrawi People,” which in turn was controversial. Despite the different name, the two groups share the same goal, which is to serve the Polisario agenda.
This group was seen as taking an extra-European approach, as the issue of Western Sahara is subject to the United Nations and does not fall within the jurisdiction of the European Parliament. When it comes to the European Union’s relations with external countries, such as the Arab Maghreb countries, responsibility is entrusted to the “Committee for Relations with the Countries of the Arab Maghreb and the Arab Maghreb Union,” which is an official body.
But this violation is only part of a long series of violations. Among these violations is the use of the logo of the European Parliament at meetings, although the rules of procedure clearly state that “parliamentary groups cannot use the name or logo of the European Parliament, the names or logos of the political groups of which they are composed, or names that might create confusion.” With official bodies of the European Parliament, such as parliamentary committees or joint parliamentary delegations.
Another notable transgression is the group’s association with a foreign country, namely Algeria, while the rules of procedure of the European Parliament, with the aim of preventing foreign interference, prevent “the formation of informal groups linked to foreign countries where there are already permanent parliamentary delegations for relations with them.”
The group’s anti-Moroccan stance cannot be overlooked, as it includes members who lack the political diversity typical of other groups, allowing the Algerian political agenda to pass without significant opposition. This occurs despite the fact that Article 3 of the Rules of Procedure states that “parliamentary groups cannot carry out activities that may affect relations with external states.”
All these violations, which were covered up for a long time, sparked criticism from many MEPs and even from the President of the European Parliament himself in the previous session. But the situation has changed today, as the presence of groups is linked to the duration of the parliamentary term. With the last European elections in June, the balance changed, leading to the end of this controversial group.
To create a joint parliamentary group, “applications must be submitted by representatives signed by at least three political groups,” according to Article 4 of the regulations on the establishment of such groups. This is precisely what the “Western Sahara” group did not achieve, as, unlike previous years, it only received the support of two groups out of three, namely the Greens and the Left, while the Social Democrats changed their position, especially because of the Spanish Socialist representatives’ vote against Establishment.
Moroccan Sahara in the face of the failures of the Algerian regime
Aside from the change in legislation, what was the motivating element that led to this disruption and how can it be explained? According to an informed source consulted by Le360, the non-sponsorship of this parliamentary group is seen as “a strong political signal directed at Algeria by the European Parliament”, in the context of “the tightening and deterioration of relations between Brussels and Algeria, where the Association Agreement is not going well, just as relations “The economic situation between the member states and Algeria, which is also in bad shape.”
Secondly, the same source believes that non-sponsorship “is nothing but the latest measure in the policy of non-interference of third countries in the work of the European Parliament and its policies, a policy that has been adopted since 2023 after the “Qatargate” scandal.
In fact, these measures include “the abolition of friendship groups, in addition to a number of measures targeting MEPs and former MEPs.” According to this informed source, “This joint parliamentary group was the last vestige of third-country interference in European Union policies.”
“Since friendship groups are no longer accepted, this group is left without any legal status recognized under the rules of procedure of the European Parliament.”
But how can a joint parliamentary group be classified that does not even meet the definition of a parliamentary group? Since friendship groups are no longer permitted, no possible legal classification applies to them, regardless of the desire of the far left, which is behind this maneuver, led by the “Left” and “Greens” groups. But how can the change in the position of socialists, especially the Spaniards, be explained?
“The socialists, led by a strong Spanish delegation, had the largest role without a doubt, but also the Renew Europe group could have provided their support,” according to the source, who adds that “behind this decision lie the recognitions of Spain, and even France, of the Moroccanity of the Sahara, as the group Renew Europe is the group to which President Macron belongs in the European Parliament.
As for the Polisario Front and the Algerian regime, anger is still prevalent, as they strongly condemn the retreat of the European Parliament representatives from the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE), which is led by Pedro Sanchez, the head of the Spanish government, who is also a strong supporter of Morocco and the Moroccan Sahara. As usual, according to the Algerian narrative, Morocco is blamed for this decision.
At a conference held on November 10 at the headquarters of the European Parliament in Brussels by representatives supporting the Polisario Front and in the presence of activists from this fictitious entity, its so-called representative in Brussels, who is allegedly a former Sahrawi minister, Omar Mansour, expressed his anger, saying: “We do not understand all of this.” Hatred, revenge, and persecution by Morocco.” But in terms of learning lessons from their failures, that is still a long way off.
Edited by Zainab Ibn Zahir
On 12/12/2024 at 21:20
