Lothar Bisky (GUE/NGL). – (DE) Madam President, on October 30, our colleague Mr Meyer, a member of my group, was forcibly prevented from leaving the airport in the city of El-Aaiún in Western Sahara, receiving injuries from Moroccan security forces. The doctor diagnosed various contusions, problems with the neck muscles and dangerously high blood pressure as a consequence of the violence. This attack on a Member of the European Parliament is completely unacceptable. The President, the offices of the European Parliament and the national authorities have made representations to the Moroccan Government. So far there has been no response from Morocco. We cannot simply accept this without a word. I would ask for your solidarity. This outrageous incident is an opportunity for me to remind us all, yet again, that the people of Western Sahara have been suffering for decades as a result of the inability of politicians to bring about a resolution to the Western Sahara conflict. I believe that we can no longer remain silent. We should focus more on this issue in the second half of this electoral term.

(Applause)