VP/HR — Spanish arms sale to Morocco

25.11.2014

Question for written answer E-009655-14
to the Commission (Vice-President/High Representative)
Rule 130
Javier Couso Permuy (GUE/NGL)

In November 2014, to coincide with the anniversary of the start of the ‘Green March on the Sahara’, numerous organisations spoke out against the Spanish Government for the fifth time for selling arms to Morocco. According to these organisations, there are reasonable grounds for suspecting that the exported materials are being used to repress the population, violate human rights and solidify Morocco’s occupation of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR).

According to Amnesty International, Sahrawi demonstrations and freedom of expression are ‘constantly restricted’. Demonstrations are prohibited and the Moroccan authorities frequently resort to the use of force.

What is more, Morocco has laid some seven million land mines around the wall it built on SADR territory, which continue to cause deaths.

1. In the view of the High Representative, is Spain complying with the 2008 Common Position on arms export controls?

2. Does the European External Action Service have any information on the human rights violations committed by Morocco using arms from the EU Member States?