Tags : Morocco, Antonio Panzeri, European Parliament, Moroccogate, Qatargate, Italian farmers,
Bribes in the EU: Secret Documents Reveal Panzeri’s Influence on Vote Affecting Italian Farmers
According to a letter extracted from the so-called Maroc-leaks, a broader dossier of telegrams leaked online since 2015, the rejection of the EU-Morocco fishing products agreement on December 14, 2011, was « a shock » for Morocco and its allies in the European Parliament. Thus, the vote on liberalizing agricultural and fishery products between the EU and Morocco became an opportunity to address what Moroccans considered « an accident, » a deal worth billions of euros.
A proposed bilateral agreement between the EU and Morocco on the liberalization of agricultural and fishery products is causing a stir in the European Parliament and enraging European farmers, particularly those from Italy and Spain. Approval from Brussels could severely harm them by reducing tariffs on Moroccan products and flooding the European market with low-cost goods. It is in this context, around the turn of 2011 and 2012, that Moroccan emissaries and Antonio Panzeri work to secure approval for the resolution to be voted on February 16, 2012. Despite being elected by Italian citizens, Panzeri will work to convince his party members to support the proposal. Similarly, the then-President of the European People’s Party (EPP), Joseph Daul, is also contacted by Moroccan representatives.
A letter from the Moroccan envoy to Strasbourg, dating back almost ten years before the Belgian investigation into politicians accused of being bribed by Moroccan intelligence to influence the European Parliament’s decisions, and contained in the broader Maroc-leaks dossier, reveals Morocco’s lobbying efforts globally. The rejection of the fishing products agreement with the EU on December 14, 2011, was « a shock » for Morocco and its allies in the European Parliament. The vote on « mutual liberalization measures for agricultural and fishery products » between the EU and Morocco thus becomes an opportunity to rectify what Moroccans believe Panzeri himself called « an incident. » The Moroccan government works within the corridors of the Parliament to persuade the two main political families, the EPP and the Socialists, to support the resolution proposal within the International Trade Committee (INTA), which will be approved by the European Parliament on February 16, 2012. On the other hand, European agricultural producers are trying to block the new agreement.
In this context, Morocco seeks the help of Panzeri and Daul through talks held by the Moroccan envoy. “The EPP president expressed optimism about the prospects of the agreement’s approval in INTA and in plenary – explains the diplomat – Mr. Daul told me that the EPP has not yet formulated its official position for the January 26 vote (in committee). However, he confided to me, based on information from MEPs and political advisors, that the general tendency of the groups is favorable to the agreement.” Indeed, the EPP will vote overwhelmingly in favor of the resolution.
The position of the Socialist group is more uncertain due to concerns about the impact on European agriculture. These concerns are reflected in the final text of the resolution presented to the European Parliament. Within S&D, it is noted that recent, close, and “stormy” meetings were held on the topic because the sectors of European agriculture, particularly Italian and Spanish, would be most affected. Panzeri then comes into play: the politician collaborates with Moroccan authorities to support the resolution’s approval. Reports from the Socialist group indicate “surprise and shock” over the recent rejection, feelings which, according to “several sources” from Morocco within the group, make MEPs “more cautious and less inclined to repeat ‘the incident’ (as Mr. Panzeri says).” Panzeri works to influence the vote of his party colleagues: “A strong current within S&D, led by the Chairman of the Maghreb Delegation, Antonio Panzeri, pushes for the separation of the agricultural agreement from the issue of the Sahara (on which those sensitive to human rights were fighting, ed.), while promising a debate on the latter in the relevant parliamentary bodies.” The result is that most Socialists will also support the resolution, including Panzeri and Marc Tarabella, the Belgian MEP whose offices were recently searched following the Qatar and Morocco bribes scandal in the EU.
This is a success for the North African country, which can now increase its exports of agricultural and fishery products to the EU: in 2010, exports to Europe already amounted to about 2 billion euros. The agreement provided for the immediate liberalization of 55% of customs duties, compared to the then 33%, and the liberalization within ten years of 70% of customs duties on EU agricultural and fishery products, compared to the then 1%. For Morocco, the agricultural sector accounts for 15% to 20% of GDP and 12% of the country’s exports, employing 38% of the workforce.
Panzeri’s commitment continued even after the approval, in view of another crucial resolution, the 2013 Euro-Mediterranean Agreement, which expands the scope of liberalizations on imports and exports between Morocco and the EU. According to the 2012-2013 report from the Moroccan Parliament on the activities of the EU-Morocco Joint Committee, the Maghreb country “managed to have removed from the report on the policy of good neighborliness the passage stating that the products did not benefit the southern populations.” In this action, the former Italian MEP was once again crucial, having “helped raise awareness among deputies about the accusations of Morocco’s opponents.”
Source : Il Fatto Quotidiano, 19/12/2022
#Morocco #Italia #EuropeanParliament #corruption #bribes #Moroccogate #Qatargate
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