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European Parliament intergroup on Western Sahara could damage the peace process

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MEPS are concerned that the creation of a new European Parliament intergroup on Western Sahara could damage the peace process under the auspices of the UN. 
While UN negotiations to find a mutually acceptable political solution for all parties involved continue, MEPs have suggested the reformation of an Intergroup on Western Sahara. There was a similar Intergroup in the previous mandate of the European Parliament, but other MEPs are resisting the creation of an Intergroup for the current mandate to make it clear that the EU is not partisan in the resolution of the conflict and respects the UN to lead the negotiations.
The Parliament’s intergroups do not wield real powers and do not represent the Parliament’s position as a whole. Nevertheless, the creation of a Western Sahara intergroup could be perceived as a sign that the parliament was taking sides with those who support independence. Given that actors are working towards a political solution this could give the appearance of a parliament that is partisan in any negotiations aimed at finding a resolution to this vexed territorial dispute.
EU Reporter spoke to two MEPs who oppose the creation of a new intergroup. We spoke to Marc Tarabella MEP (S&D, BE) who said that this was a question that should be left to the United Nations. Tarabella added that the issues faced by Western Sahara and its status as a non-self-governing territory are already touched on by many committees in the Parliament from Fisheries to Foreign Affairs; he also underlined the importance of the EU’s cooperation with Morocco on a wide range of questions.

Ilhan Kyuchyuk MEP says that the European Parliament should not create a Polisario intergroup on the divisive question of Western Sahara, he said that it would send a bad signal to those who are working towards peace. Kyuchyuk points to the excellent cooperation between the EU and Morocco, he says that the EU and parliament should focus on this cooperation.

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