The EU Parliament Scandal: Morocco and the UAE Connection
For the past two months, the European Parliament has been rocked by one of the biggest corruption cases it has ever known. New revelations have recently emerged that seem to point the finger at the United Arab Emirates. Is the UAE a corrupt a...
For the past two months, the European Parliament has been rocked by one of the biggest corruption cases it has ever known. New revelations have recently emerged that seem to point the finger at the United Arab Emirates. Is the UAE a corrupt actor or the conductor of a cabal launched against Morocco and Qatar in the middle of the World Cup? | ||
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The case prematurely dubbed "Moroccogate" involves a vast network of corruption within the European Parliament. Investigators found among the many envelopes of cash recovered during the search of the home of Pier Antonio Panzeri, a former MEP suspected of being the mastermind of this network, envelopes stamped with the seal of the Emirati Red Crescent. This was reported by La Libre Belgique, which examined closely the photos of the envelopes and banknotes seized by the courts and broadcast in all the media in December 2022. | ||
The European Parliament has been investigating the issue for months and has uncovered evidence that a number of MEPs were taking bribes to influence their votes. The Moroccan government has been implicated in the scandal as it allegedly paid €8 million to bribe European politicians to block the recognition of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR). The SADR is a self-proclaimed state that claims sovereignty over the Western Sahara region, which is currently administered by Morocco. The EU has not recognized the SADR as a state. | ||
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The investigation began in 2019, when an anonymous whistleblower contacted the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) with allegations of corruption within the European Parliament. The investigation has since expanded to include several European countries and North Africa, including Morocco and the UAE. | ||
The Moroccan government has denied the allegations, but the evidence suggests otherwise. A leaked document from the Moroccan Foreign Ministry revealed that the government had created a slush fund to bribe MEPs to vote against the recognition of the SADR. The document stated that the fund was created in 2012 and that it had been used to pay MEPs from several countries, including France, Spain, Portugal, and Italy. | ||
The Moroccan government has been lobbying hard to prevent the recognition of the SADR by the EU. It has used a number of tactics, including threats, intimidation, and bribery. The Moroccan government has also tried to portray the SADR as a terrorist organization, which is not true. | ||
The recent revelations involving the UAE have raised even more questions about the scandal. Envelopes stamped with the seal of the Emirati Red Crescent were found among the many envelopes of cash recovered during the search of Pier Antonio Panzeri's home. The Italian former MEP is suspected of being the mastermind of the network of corruption within the European Parliament. | ||
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The UAE has powerful networks of influence in Brussels and has been known to impose its agenda and fight against its enemies, including Qatar. The UAE was part of the blockade against Qatar in 2017 that isolated the country overnight on the regional scene. Abu Dhabi has been accused of lobbying intensely in favor of its country in Brussels, as well as fighting against its enemies, with Qatar leading the charge. | ||
While other countries have been funding intense lobbying of institutions for years, be it China, Russia, Saudi Arabia, the UAE have remained discreet since the start of the affair. However, a report released in June 2022 on Abu Dhabi's influence and lobbying strategy with European institutions revealed that the UAE had woven a web via fake research centers, contacts with the European Parliament, or political communication agencies. | ||
Conclusion | ||
The EU Parliament scandal involving Morocco and the UAE connection is one of the biggest corruption cases the European Parliament has ever seen. The scandal has exposed the deep-rooted corruption within the European Parliament and the extent to which governments will go to influence EU. | ||
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