El presidente de la Cámara de Representantes de Marruecos denuncia “maniobras de algunas partes” de la Eurocámara

The president of Morocco's House of Representatives, Rachid Talbi Alami, has denounced "manoeuvres" by "some parties" within the European Parliament, amid tensions after the Moroccan legislative body chose to reassess its relations with the European Parliament following a critical resolution. 

"This interference is not based on principles or values, but is motivated by short-term interests and led by lobbies that are more active with the rise in energy prices," he said, according to the Moroccan state news agency MAP. 

Alami, who took part in a conference on the state of relations with the European Parliament organised by the two chambers of the Moroccan Parliament, stressed that these activities "are the antipodes" of relations between Rabat and the European Union (EU). 

He pointed out that they are contrary to the spirit of the partnership, which covers "strategic issues" at regional and international level, and recalled that the Chamber of Representatives - the lower house of the Moroccan Parliament - has an institutional twinning project with seven European Parliaments. 

"It is about playing with the destiny of countries and indulging in childish behaviour," he lamented, before calling for partnership relations to be based on clarity, trust and mutual respect, and not "on tutelage and contempt and denigration of partner institutions". 

Lahcen Haddad, chairman of the Morocco-EU Joint Parliamentary Committee, said that several MEPs are using the Parliament as "a platform" to attack Rabat, as part of what he described as "a systematic war" against the African country. 

The Moroccan Parliament on Tuesday approved the creation of a committee to reassess relations with the European Parliament following a resolution by the European body critical of the press freedom situation in the country, as well as Rabat's alleged bribery scheme to gain influence in Brussels. 

The text adopted by the European Parliament called for respect for freedom of expression and media freedom, denounced the use of the "Pegasus" spying programme and also demanded "a fair trial" for imprisoned journalists Omar Radi, Sulaiman Raisuni and Taufik Buachrine.