Thread by @ElwaliWS

The blackmailing #Morocco uses against the #EU& #Spain,and the use of two sensitive topics (#migration & #terrorism) has not started with what happened in #Ceuta. It has been the case along the #EU-#Morocco relations’ history. A quick flashback:

1:used to push #EU to accept #Morocco’s claims to join the #EU in the 90s after being lonely/unwanted in its natural continent,the #AU(b/c of its illegal military #occupation of the neighbouring #WesternSahara)->the #EU submitted but proposed an association agreement instead

2:migration used as key element during negotiations of the 2000 #Association_Agreement to maximise the funds provided to #Morocco by the #EU under the agreement and to get what the #EU calls “Advanced status” under the #ENP (European Neighbouring Policy) with related advantages

3:parties started later negotiating the #Fisheries (~160M€) & #Open_Skies Agreements(concluded/applied 2006/2007 valid till 2011).of course you can imagine how successful #Terrorism would be to get well paid deal when negotiations takes place after/during the 9/11 wave!

4:2011 the @Europarl_EN rejects proposed extension of fisheries agreement b/c of #WesternSahara’s illegal inclusion->#Morocco threatens to open the borders for immigrants->@EU_Commission submits & lobby #EU institutions to push the deal through with slight text adjustments.

5:#Morocco understood efficacy of its threats&revealed #EU weaknesses. So used it this time to get both the #Liberalisation_Agreement (free trade agreement 2012) and to start negotiations in 2013 for #DCFTA (deep and comprehensive free trade Agreement). The latter never concluded

6:December2015,the #EU court of justice annulled Trade agreement b/c of illegal inclusion of #WesternSahara-> #Morocco this time didn’t just threaten,but effectively put on hold all cooperations in both #migration& #terrorism->#EU submitted again&rushed for an appeal to court

7:#EU readiness to violate its own law for this 2 files/topics increased #Morocco’s confidence to push the union to ignore/circumvent the following rulings(2016&2018)of the EU court of justice. this one made the #EU finally understand the nature of its relations with #Morocco

8:parties started negotiations to amend the agreements to“comply”with the court rulings. #Morocco succeed to increase funds incl.for settlements but #EU dragged #Morocco into“extension process to include #WesternSahara&sign an agreement clearly deny sovereignty over the territory

9:During the last year #Morocco tried to push hard the #EU member states to influence the court decision without success. Morocco tried all means of pressure including #Trump proclamation which had NO effect on the #EU-> time for Morocco to use the same old pressure tools

10: in few weeks,a new ruling expected from the #EU court, and that one is expected to be hard to circumvent or to misinterpret. This time Morocco did not only threatened or put on hold cooperation but effectively opened the borders & encouraged migration into #Ceuta

11:#Morocco’s action seems exhibition of power,but in reality,reflection of lack of options. Considering the #COVID19 Crisis and it’s economic effects on Morocco(e.g:tourism)the Moroccan regime knows exactly what will happen when fisheries&trade agreements with #EU stops.

12:while #Morocco is in #War with #POLISARIO, 100s of thousands jobs will be lost,at least 1b€/y at stake,#settlements cannot be maintained nor extended, thousands of #Moroccans will leave #WesternSahara,.. things #Morocco cannot afford or accept

13:the question here is: would the #EU submit and kneel again? Would they keep the blind eye on repression, corruption, and unfair wealth distribution in #Morocco (which r the main reasons behind #migration)? REMEMBER:#Ceuta is not only border of #Spain but also border of the #EU