The European Parliament’s fisheries commission approved the new EU-Morocco fisheries protocol on Wednesday, November 27th, in what only can be qualified as a “Vote of Shame.”

“The Commission, voted this illegal fishing accord with Morocco, with 13 votes in favor, opposed to 8 votes against and 2 abstentions. This vote is in itself a clear indicator on the recognition by the members of the commission that something is wrong in the accord. And we all know what is wrong in it. It is aclear act of theft, a blatant violation of international law, and a violation of the future of the kids of Western Sahara”, Dr. Ghali, the Coordinator of the SNRW, said Today.

The EP Fisheries commission’s attitude “only gave additional proof that Europe cares about profit and exploitation of other nations’ resources, more than its declared and pretended care for the respect of the international legality, human rights and the will of the Saharawi people, even when it receives obvious and clear indicators on this people’s opposition to the exploitation and plunder of their country”, he further said.

Dr. Ghali, praised however, “those courageous members of the Commission, who said no to illegality, no to exploitation, and no to the support of an occupying force’s plunder of the past, present and future wealth and future of the children of Western Sahara”.

The SNRW calls on all European members of Parliament, who will participate to the plenary vote of the accord next December 10, to “once again save the honor and face of Europe, and vote against this illegal accord, otherwise, the shame of Europe will be even greater”.

SNRW further estimated that no European parliamentarian can pretend to ignore the real situation of Western Sahara as a colony, the plunder of its resources by Morocco and other countries for more than three decades, the illegality of such activities, and most important the Saharawi people’s opposition and rejection to such accord and plunder. Therefore, the vote will be a clear reflection of the real face of Europe, its representatives and its civilization.

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