MEPs denounce Morocco denying them access to Al-Aain

Brussels, Oct 28, 2017 (SPS) - The euro-deputies have denounced on Friday the Moroccan occupying authorities to deny them access to the city of Al-Ayun, in Western Sahara.

They were going to visit the occupied territories to inquire about the situation of human rights.

"Upset" by her expulsion from the city of Al-Ayun, President of the European Parliament’s Intergroup "peace for Western Sahara", Jytte Guteland said that the purpose of her visit to the occupied territories of Western Sahara is to observe on the spot the situation of the human rights.

"We have come here as members of the European Parliament to see by ourselves the situation on the ground and to have the opportunity to listen to civil society. As parliamentarians, we want to be sufficiently informed about the situation in Western Sahara, especially as we will be asked to speak about a modified EU-Morocco association agreement," she said in a statement.

The MEPs said that the visit to Western Sahara occupied territories was "particularly important" since the European Commission is currently in talks with Morocco about an additional agreement  to the  EU-Morocco Association Agreement, in compliance with the ruling of the European Court of Justice (ECJ)

In its decision of 21 December, the ECJ said that Morocco and Western Sahara are two "separate and distinct" territories and that no international agreement can be applied to it without the consent of the Sahrawi people. (SPS)