Tuesday, 14th February 2012
Morocco agreement on agricultural and Fishery Products
PLENARY SESSION, STRASBOURG
Tuesday 14 February 2012
I’ve heard a great deal in this debate this evening about farmers’ rights, workers’ rights and human rights in Western Sahara from those who wish to say NO to this agreement. This is a great irony from the same people that only weeks ago voted NO to the Fisheries Partnership agreement between the EU and Morocco. These bleeding hearts claim that the Saharawi people have reaped no benefits from the fisheries agreement and will reap no benefits from this agricultural agreement.
Are they aware that their vote immediately closed down a processing factory, run by a Scottish skipper in DAKHLA, throwing more than 600 Saharawi people out of a job? Are they aware that their NO vote cost the jobs of 780 fishermen from Andalusia, the Canaries and Spain?
Are they aware that Morocco is now threatening to sign fisheries contracts with China & Russia who will have no respect for fisheries conservation or for workers or trade union rights.
What about the rights of the Saharawi workers from Dakhla? What about the rights of the poor EU fishermen? These MEPs who wish to vote NO to this agreement should get a reality check. They should learn a bit more about the real situation on the ground before they pontificate about things of which they know little.
I would suggest we listen to the views of David Martin in this debate who said that we must support this agreement.
STRUAN STEVENSON, MEP
