EU Demands Human Rights Progess from Morocco

By Nykoel Dinardo
Senior Desk Officer, Middle East

GRENADA, Spain – On March 6, Morocco became the first Arab country to join the Summit of the European Union (EU).  Twenty-seven states attended the summit, and concerns about the state of human rights in Morocco joined the agenda. 

EU President Herman Van Rompuy called on Morocco to make progress in their human rights department – addressing specifically the challenge of Western Sahara, an area that has been demanding independence from Morocco since the region was annexed in 1975.   Van Rompuy stated that a “just and lasting” solution for the region needed to be created. 

Moroccan Prime Minister Abbas al-Fassi acknowledged that there had been rights violations.  However, he said that they had been handled in much the same manner as a violation would be handled by an EU state.  Al-Fassi stated that Morocco would like to see Western Sahara as an autonomous region, but an area that is still part of the Moroccan territory.  He also accused Algeria of interfering in the process of creating a viable solution, claiming that the neighbor state was preventing any solution from coming forth.

The Summit meeting also addressed the problems of lack of development and illiteracy in the Maghreb state.  Morocco signed an association agreement with the EU in 1996, and the two regions are working together to improve development opportunities. 

On Saturday, before the Summit, the Moroccan Ministers of Agriculture, Economy, Education, Trade and Foreign Affairs met in Spain with Spanish Employer and Industry Association representations.  The meeting was set to address future opportunities in the transport, logistics, infrastructure, energy, and renewable energy sectors.   This meeting, together with the Summit, is hoped to bring about new plans for development and common economic programs between Morocco and the EU.

For more information, please see:

AFP – EU Demands More Rights Progress From Morocco – 7 March 2010

Earth News – EU Presses Morocco on Human Rights – 7 March 2010

AFP – Morocco to be First Arab Nation in EU Summit – 6 March 2010

iStockAnalyst – EU Enhances Cooperation with Morocco – 6 March 2010

Author: Impunity Watch Archive