Nordic MEPs condemn Rud Pedersen for lobbying on behalf of Morocco, citing ethical concerns over representing an occupying power. They express commitment to human rights and announce a refusal to engage with RP until it ends its ties with Morocco. The article highlights the legal implications of Morocco’s actions regarding Western Sahara.
The political fallout from lobbying efforts on behalf of occupying powers like Morocco is significant. The Danish Public Affairs company Rud Pedersen (RP) has come under scrutiny for representing Morocco’s interests, particularly concerning trade and fisheries agreements with the EU. Nordic MEPs were alerted to this situation by NGOs, prompting concerns over RP’s moral and ethical responsibilities in representing an occupier’s business interests.
NGOs revealed that Morocco hired RP through its Confédération Générale de Entreprises du Maroc (CGEM), as reported by Africa Intelligence. This relationship raises alarms as RP has connections to Morocco’s government, including employing the daughter of Morocco’s foreign minister. Such ties question the lobbyist’s integrity and accountability regarding the goal of their lobbying efforts.
The EU, along with the UN, does not recognize Morocco’s claims to resources extracted from illegally occupied Western Sahara. Legal precedents, particularly the European Court of Justice’s rulings on fisheries and trade agreements, highlight Morocco’s attempts to circumvent international laws by selling fish rights to European businesses without benefiting the Saharawi people.
The ongoing occupation and exploitation of Western Sahara are internationally deemed illegal, and the Nordic MEPs emphasize their opposition to such exploitative practices. They firmly state that as long as RP continues its lobbying for Morocco, they refuse to engage with the lobbyist on any issue, not limited to Morocco or Western Sahara.
This statement underscores the MEPs’ firm stance that occupation should not be tolerated, and they call upon RP to sever ties with the Moroccan regime. Until RP takes this action, the Nordic MEPs will maintain their blacklist, reaffirming their commitment to human rights and international legality.
The Nordic MEPs reinforce their opposition to the lobbying efforts of Rud Pedersen on behalf of Morocco, emphasizing the immorality of representing an occupying power. They outline the legal and ethical implications of such actions while calling for a severance of ties with Morocco until it addresses its illegal occupation of Western Sahara. The legislators are committed to holding accountable those who facilitate such exploitation.
Original Source: euobserver.com
