French Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Nicolas Bay has condemned the invitation extended to the Polisario Front to participate in a hearing within the European Parliament on Tuesday, describing it as a "provocation" and an "attempt to undermine the relationship between the European Union and Morocco."
In a statement sent to Assahifa, Bay explained that the invitation was issued by MEP Lynn Boyland, a member of the far-left group and the European Parliament's rapporteur on Maghreb issues in the International Trade Committee. The hearing focused on a ruling by the European Court of Justice that annulled the fisheries agreement between the EU and Morocco.
Bay pointed out the contradiction in the actions of the European far-left, noting that the invitation to the Polisario Front came just after left-wing MEPs, including members of France's La France Insoumise party, voted against or abstained from voting on a resolution calling for the release of Algerian writer Boualem Sansal.
The French MEP referred to the Polisario Front as an "illegal armed movement" attempting to represent the people of Western Sahara, while he asserted that it "only represents itself and Algerian interests." He added that hosting the Polisario in the European Parliament "damages the credibility of the institution and undermines its neutrality."
Bay emphasized that strong relations between the EU and Morocco are essential for regional stability and prosperity, reiterating that Western Sahara is an integral part of Morocco.
In this context, Nicolas Bay announced his boycott of the hearing, which was attended by the Polisario Front, stating that many European MEPs had taken the same step "in protest against this maneuver orchestrated by the far-left with support from the Algerian government."
Bay concluded his statement by asserting that "the EU's natural partner on the Western Sahara issue should be Rabat, not the Polisario militias serving Algeria's agenda."