Morocco expelled four MEPs for attempting to enter Western Sahara

Moroccan authorities have declared persona non grata and expelled four members of the European Parliament from the country for attempting to enter the territory of the disputed Western Sahara region. This was reported by Politico newspaper on February 20.

"Three MEPs <...> were forced to return to Spain on Thursday evening after landing in El Ayoun, the capital of the disputed territory of Western Sahara, which is partially controlled by Morocco," the publication wrote.

After landing and descending onto the runway, the MEPs were reportedly blocked by uniformed men and "forcibly forced" back onto the plane.

"No reasons were given, they just told us that we were persona non grata and that Moroccan officials were denying [us the right] to go there," Finnish MP Jussi Saramo told the paper.

The parliamentarians later said they were on an "observation mission" to monitor compliance with a recent EU Court of Justice ruling to annul agriculture and fisheries agreements between the EU and Morocco.

The EU Court of Justice had earlier ordered the annulment of trade agreements that allowed Morocco to export fish and agricultural products from the controlled territory of Western Sahara to the EU.

On December 16, 2024, the Pan-African Parliament accused the West of creating a food crisis. The deputies said that as a result of restrictions on the largest fertilizer companies in Russia and Belarus, 30 million tons of products had disappeared from the world market.