EU elections: how have candidates voted on occupied Western Sahara?
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Are you casting your vote for the EU elections? Find here a complete overview of MEP candidates who have supported the Moroccan occupation of Western Sahara in previous controversial votes. Choose wisely.
 

Published 17 May 2019

Western Sahara Resource Watch has gone through the EU Member States' lists of candidates for the upcoming elections for the European Parliament. Below, we've enlisted all current Members of Parliament (MEPs) that are seeking re-election, in accordance with how they voted on two crucial votes in the European Parliament pertaining to occupied Western Sahara.

On 16 January this year, after months of heated debate, the Parliament voted on the proposed amendment to the EU-Morocco Association Agreement, that would allow for the trade protocols to the Agreement to be expressly applied to the part of Western Sahara that is under Morocco's military control. The amendment came about after the EU Court of Justice had ruled in December 2016 that the trade arrangement could not be applied to Western Sahara, since Morocco has no sovereignty over or mandate to administer the territory. The only lawful way to include the territory, the Court stated, was through the explicit consent of the people of the Western Sahara. In spite of that clear Ruling, the EU institutions chose to negotiate an amended version with Morocco, and did not ask the Saharawis for their consent. Ignoring the protest by the UN-recognised representation of the Saharawi people, Polisario Front, and the appeals of dozens of Saharawi civil society groups, a majority in the EU Parliament approved the proposed application of EU-Morocco trade relations to Western Sahara.

In February, a majority in Parliament backed a similar proposal on fisheries, rubber-stamping the express inclusion of the waters of occupied Western Sahara into the EU-Morocco Fisheries Agreement - again, in disregard of a judgment by the EU Court of February 2018 concluding an EU-Morocco fish deal to be inapplicable to Western Sahara and of an explicit warning by leading international human rights organisation, Human Rights Watch, that the agreement ran counter to international humanitarian law.

On 23-26 May 2019, EU Parliamentary elections will take place all over Europe. 

Find out which MEPs running for re-election from your country are worth your vote. Which of them considered rule-of-law more important than short-term interests? Who was tough enough to respect the EU's own Court in the face of Morocco's threats of ending cooperation on migration? Read on, and decide. Your vote matters. 


AUSTRIA

Voted AGAINST the EU-Morocco agreements that will expressly be applied to Western Sahara:
Eugen Freund (Sozialdemokratische Partei Österreichs - S&D)
Karoline Graswander-Hainz (Sozialdemokratische Partei Österreichs - S&D)
Karin Kadenback (Sozialdemokratische Partei Österreichs - S&D)
Evelyn Regner (Sozialdemokratische Partei Österreichs - S&D)
Josef Weidenholzer (Sozialdemokratische Partei Österreichs - S&D)
Angelika Mlinar (NEOS – Das Neue Österreich - ALDE)
Michel Reimon (Die Grünen - Die Grüne Alternative - Greens/EFA)
Monika Vana (Die Grünen - Die Grüne Alternative - Greens/EFA)
Thomas Waitz (Die Grünen - Die Grüne Alternative - Greens/EFA)
Georg Mayer (Freiheitliche Partei Österreichs - ENF)

Voted FOR the EU-Morocco agreements that will expressly be applied to Western Sahara:
Heinz K. Becker (Österreichische Volkspartei - EPP)
Othmar Karas (Österreichische Volkspartei - EPP)
Lukas Mandl (Österreichische Volkspartei - EPP)
Paul Rübig (Österreichische Volkspartei - EPP)
Claudia Schmidt (Österreichische Volkspartei - EPP)
Franz Obermayr (Freiheitliche Partei Österreichs - ENF)
Harald Vilimsky (Freiheitliche Partei Österreichs - ENF)

ABSTAINED on the EU-Morocco agreements that will expressly be applied to Western Sahara:
Barbara Kappel (Freiheitliche Partei Österreichs - ENF) abstained on the trade vote, and was not present for the vote on the fisheries agreement


BELGIUM:

Voted AGAINST the EU-Morocco agreements that will expressly be applied to Western Sahara:
Gerolf Annemans (Vlaams Belang - ENFF)
Bart Staes (Groen! - Greens/EFA)
Philippe Lamberts (Ecolo - Greens/EFA)

Voted FOR the EU-Morocco agreements that will expressly be applied to Western Sahara:
Guy Verhofstadt (Open VLD - ALDE)
Hilde Vautmans (Open VLD - ALDE)
Lieve Wierinck (Open VLD-ALDE)
Tom Vandenkendelaere (CD&V - EPP)
Ivo Belet (CD&V - EPP)
Frédérique Ries (Mouvement Réformateur - ALDE)
Pascal Arimont (Christlich Soziale Partei - EPP)
Marc Tarabella (PS - S&D)

ABSTAINED on the EU-Morocco agreements that will expressly be applied to Western Sahara:
Kathleen Van Brempt (SP.a - S&D)
Mark Demesmaeker (NVA - ECR)
Marie Arena (PS - S&D)


BULGARIA

Voted AGAINST the EU-Morocco agreements that will expressly be applied to Western Sahara:
None.

Voted FOR the EU-Morocco agreements that will expressly be applied to Western Sahara:
Asim Ahmedov Ademov (Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria - EPP)
Andrey Kovatchev (Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria - EPP)
Svetoslav Hristov Malinov (Democrats for Strong Bulgaria - EPP)
Eva Maydell (Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria - EPP)
Andrey Novakev (Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria - EPP)
Emil Radev (Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria - EPP)
Vladimir Urutchev (Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria - EPP)
Peter Kouroumbashev (Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament Bulgaria - S&D)
Georgi Pirinski (Bulgarian Socialist Party - S&D), though abstained on the fisheries agreement
Sergei Stanishev (Bulgarian Socialist Party - S&D)
Nikolay Barekov (Reload Bulgaria Party - ECR)
Angel Dzhambazk (VMRO - ECR)
Nedzhmi Ali (Movement for Rights and Freedoms - ALDE)
Filiz Hyusmenova ( Movement for Rights and Freedoms - ALDE)
Ilhan Kyuchyuk (Movement for Rights and Freedoms - ALDE)
Iskra Mihaylova (Movement for Rights and Freedoms - ALDE)

ABSTAINED on the EU-Morocco agreements that will expressly be applied to Western Sahara:
Momchil Nekov (Bulgarian Socialist Party - S&D)


CROATIA

Voted AGAINST the EU-Morocco agreements that will expressly be applied to Western Sahara:
None.

Voted FOR the EU-Morocco agreements that will expressly be applied to Western Sahara:
Ivana Maletić (Hrvatska demokratska zajednica - EPP)
Marijana Petir (Independent - EPP)
Dubravka Šuica (Hrvatska demokratska zajednica - EPP)
Ivica Tolić (Hrvatska demokratska zajednica - EPP)
Željana Zovko (Hrvatska demokratska zajednica - EPP)
Biljana Borzan (Socijaldemokratska partija Hrvatske - S&D)
Tonino Picula (Socijaldemokratska partija Hrvatske - S&D)
Ruža Tomašić (Hrvatska konzervativna stranka - ECR)
Ivan Jakovčić (Istarski demokratski sabor - Dieta democratica istriana - ALDE)
Jozo Radoš (Građansko-liberalni savez - ALDE)
Davor Škrlec (Independent - Greens/EFA)


CYPRUS

Voted AGAINST the EU-Morocco agreements that will expressly be applied to Western Sahara:
Neoklis Sylikiotis (Progressive Party of Working People-Left-New Forces - GUE/NGL): voted against the trade deal but was absent for the vote on the fisheries agreement

Voted FOR the EU-Morocco agreements that will expressly be applied to Western Sahara:
Demetris Papadakis (Movement for Social Democracy EDEK - S&D): voted for the trade deal though was absent during the fisheries vote

ABSTAINED on the EU-Morocco agreements that will expressly be applied to Western Sahara:
Lefteris Christoforou (Democratic Rally - EPP): abstained on trade, was absent on fisheries
Eleni Theocharous (Independent - ECR): abstained on trade, was absent on fisheries

DID NOT VOTE (not present?) on the EU-Morocco agreements that will expressly be applied to Western Sahara
Costas Mavrides (Democratic Rally - S&D)


CZECH REPUBLIC

Voted AGAINST the EU-Morocco agreements that will expressly be applied to Western Sahara:
None.

Voted FOR the EU-Morocco agreements that will expressly be applied to Western Sahara:
Martina Dlabajová (ANO 2011 - ALDE)
Dita Charanzová (ANO 2011 - ALDE)
Petr Ježek (Hnutí Hlas - ALDE)
Jaromír Kohlíček (Komunistická strana Čech a Moravy - GUE/NGL)
Luděk Niedermanyer (TOP 09 a Starostové - EPP)
Stanislav Polčák (Starostové a nezávisli - EPP)
Pavel Poc (Česká strana sociálně demokratická - S&D)
Jiří Pospíšil (TOP 09 a Starostové - EPP)
Olga Sehnalová (Česká strana sociálně demokratická - S&D)
Michaela Šojdrová (Křesťanská a demokratická unie - Československá strana lidová - EPP)
Jaromír Štětina (TOP 09 a Starostové - EPP)
Pavel Svoboda (Křesťanská a demokratická unie - Československá strana lidová - EPP)
Pavel Telička (Hnutí Hlas - ALDE)
Evžen Tošenovský (Občanská demokratická strana - ECR)
Jan Zahradil (Občanská demokratická strana - ECR)
Tomáš Zdechovský (Křesťanská a demokratická unie - Československá strana lidová - EPP)

Voted to include Western Sahara in the EU-Morocco Fisheries Agreement, but against including Western Sahara in the EU-Morocco trade Protocols:
Kateřina Konečná (Komunistická strana Čech a Moravy - GUE/NGL)
Jiří Maštálka (Komunistická strana Čech a Moravy - GUE/NGL)


DENMARK

Voted AGAINST the EU-Morocco agreements that will expressly be applied to Western Sahara:
Margrete Auken (Socialistisk Folkeparti - Greens/EFA)
Rina Ronja Kari (Folkebevægelsen mod EU - GUE/NGL)
Morten Helveg Petersen (Det Radikale Venstre - ALDE) (against the fisheries agreement, abstained on trade)
Christel Schaldemose (Socialdemokratiet - S&D)
Jeppe Kofod (Socialdemokratiet - S&D) (against the fisheries agreement, abstained on trade)

Voted FOR the EU-Morocco agreements that will expressly be applied to Western Sahara:
Morten Løkkegaard (Venstre, Danmarks Liberale Parti - ALDE)
Anders Primdahl Vistisen (Dansk Folkeparti - ECR)


ESTONIA

Voted AGAINST the EU-Morocco agreements that will expressly be applied to Western Sahara:
None.

Voted FOR the EU-Morocco agreements that will expressly be applied to Western Sahara:
Tunne Kelam (Isamaa - EPP)
Igor Gräzin (Independent - ALDE)
Urmas Paet (Eesti Reformierakond - ALDE)
Yana Toom (Eesti Keskerakond - ALDE)
Indrek Tarand (Söltumatu - Greens/EFA)


FINLAND:

Voted AGAINST the EU-Morocco agreements that will expressly be applied to Western Sahara:
Merja Kyllönen (Vasemmistoliitto - GUE/NGL)
Nils Torvalds (Svenska folkpartiet - ALDE)
Sirpa Pietikäinen (Kansallinen Kokoomus - EPP)
Heidi Hautala (Vihreä liitto - Greens/NGL)
Pirkko Ruohonen-Lerner (Perussuomalaiset - ECR)

Voted FOR the EU-Morocco agreements that will expressly be applied to Western Sahara:
Petri Sarvamaa (Kansallinen Kokoomus - EPP)
Henna Virkkunen (Kansallinen Kokoomus - EPP)
Jussi Halla-aho (Perussuomalaiset - ECR)
Elsi Katainen (Suomen Keskusta - ALDE)
Mirja Vehkaperä (Suomen Keskusta - ALDE)
Miia-Petra Kumpula-Natri (Finland - Suomen Sosialidemokraattinen Puolue/Finlands Socialdemokratiska Parti - S&D) 


FRANCE

Voted AGAINST the EU-Morocco agreements that will expressly be applied to Western Sahara:
Guillaume Balas (Génération.s - S&D)
Pascal Durand (Europe Ecologie - Greens/EFA)
Yannick Jadot (Europe Ecologie - Greens/EFA)
Eva Joly (Europe Ecologie - Greens/EFA)
Patrick Le Hyaric (Front de Gauche - GUE/NGL)
Edouard Martin (Génération.s - S&D)
Michèle Rivasi (Europe Ecologie - Greens/EFA)
Isabelle Thomas (Génération.s - S&D)
Marie-Pierre Vieu (Front de Gauche - GUE/NGL)

Voted FOR the EU-Morocco agreements that will expressly be applied to Western Sahara:
Dominique Bilde (Rassemblement national - ENF)
Alain Cadec (Les Républicains - EPP)
Arnaud Danjean (Les Républicains - EPP)
Michel Dantin (Les Républicains - EPP)
Angélique Delahaye (Les Républicains - EPP)
Geoffroy Didier (Les Républicains - EPP)
Mireille D'Ornano (Les Patriotes - EFDD)
Karine Gloanec Maurin (Parti Socialiste - S&D)
Brice Hortefeux (Les Républicains - EPP)
Jean-François Jalkh (Rassemblement national - ENF)
Gilles Lebreton (Rassemblement national - ENF)
Philippe Loiseau (Rassemblement national - ENF) 
Dominique Martin (Rassemblement national - ENF)
Emmanuel Maurel (Parti Socialiste - S&D)
Joëlle Mélin (Rassemblement national - ENF)
Nadine Morano (Les Républicains - EPP)
Florian Philippot (Les Patriotes - EFDD)
Franck Proust (Les Républicains - EPP)
Dominique Riquet (Mouvement Radical Social-Libéral - ALDE)
Anne Sander (Les Républicains - EPP)

ABSTAINED on the EU-Morocco agreements that will expressly be applied to Western Sahara:
Eric Andrieu (Parti Socialiste - S&D) on the trade agreement, was not present to vote on the fisheries agreement
Sylvie Guillaume (Parti Socialiste - S&D) on the trade agreement, was not present to vote on the fisheries agreement
France Jamet (Rassemblement national - ENF)

Voted to include Western Sahara in the EU-Morocco trade Protocols, but against including Western Sahara in the EU-Morocco Fisheries Agreement"
Younous Omarjee (L'union pour les Outremer - GUE/NGL) voted for the trade deal but against the fisheries agreement

DID NOT VOTE (not present?) on the EU-Morocco agreements that will expressly be applied to Western Sahara
Mylène Trosczynski (Les Républicains - EPP)


GERMANY

Voted AGAINST the EU-Morocco agreements that will expressly be applied to Western Sahara:
Arndt Kohn (Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands - S&D)
Birgit Sippel (Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands - S&D)
Arne Lietz (Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands - S&D)
Iris Hoffmann (Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands - S&D)
Norbert Neuser (Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands - S&D)
Jens Geier (Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands - S&D)
Evelyne Gebhardt (Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands - S&D)
Tiemo Wölken (Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands - S&D)
Dietmar Köster (Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands - S&D)
Petra Kammerevert (Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands - S&D)
Martina Werner (Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands - S&D)
Babette Winter (Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands - S&D)
Knut Fleckenstein (Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands - S&D)
Maria Noichl (Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands - S&D)
Joachim Schuster (Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands - S&D)
Sven Giegold (Bündnis 90/Die Grünen - Greens/EFA)
Ska Keller (Bündnis 90/Die Grünen - Greens/EFA)
Reinhard Bütikofer (Bündnis 90/Die Grünen - Greens/EFA)
Martin Häusling (Bündnis 90/Die Grünen - Greens/EFA)
Romeo Franz (Bündnis 90/Die Grünen - Greens/EFA)
Terry Reintke (Bündnis 90/Die Grünen - Greens/EFA)
Cornelia Ernst (DIE LINKE - GUE/NGL)
Helmut Scholz (DIE LINKE - GUE/NGL)
Martina Michels (DIE LINKE - GUE/NGL)
Martin Schirdewan (DIE LINKE - GUE/NGL)
Martin Sonneborn (Die PARTEI - NI)

Voted FOR the EU-Morocco agreements that will expressly be applied to Western Sahara:
Bernd Lucke (Liberal-Conservative Refomists - ECR)
Arne Gericke (Bündnis C - ECR)
Markus Ferber (Christlich-Soziale Union in Bayern e.V. - EPP)
Angelika Niebler (Christlich-Soziale Union in Bayern e.V. - EPP)
Manfred Weber (Christlich-Soziale Union in Bayern e.V. - EPP)
Daniel Caspary (Christlich Demokratische Union Deutschlands - EPP)
Jan Christian Ehler (Christlich Demokratische Union Deutschlands - EPP)
Michael Gahler (Christlich Demokratische Union Deutschlands - EPP)
Stefan Gehrold (Christlich Demokratische Union Deutschlands - EPP)
Jens Gieseke (Christlich Demokratische Union Deutschlands - EPP)
Ingeborg Gräßle (Christlich Demokratische Union Deutschlands - EPP)
Peter Jahr (Christlich Demokratische Union Deutschlands - EPP)
Werner Kuhn (Christlich Demokratische Union Deutschlands - EPP)
Peter Liese (Christlich Demokratische Union Deutschlands - EPP)
Norbert Lins (Christlich Demokratische Union Deutschlands - EPP)
Thomas Mann (Christlich Demokratische Union Deutschlands - EPP)
David McAllister (Christlich Demokratische Union Deutschlands - EPP)
Dennis Radtke (Christlich Demokratische Union Deutschlands - EPP)
Sven Schulze (Christlich Demokratische Union Deutschlands - EPP)
Andreas Schwab (Christlich Demokratische Union Deutschlands - EPP)
Sabine Verheyen (Christlich Demokratische Union Deutschlands - EPP)
Axel Voss (Christlich Demokratische Union Deutschlands - EPP)
Rainer Wieland (Christlich Demokratische Union Deutschlands - EPP)
Ulrike Müller (Freie Müller - ALDE)
Udo Bullmann (Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands - S&D)
Jo Leinen (Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands - S&D)
Peter Simon (Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands - S&D)

ABSTAINED on the EU-Morocco agreements that will expressly be applied to Western Sahara:
Jörg Meuthen (Alternative für Deutschland - EFDD)

Voted to include Western Sahara in one of the Agreements, and against the inclusion in the other
Monika Hohlmeier (Christlich-Soziale Union in Bayern e.V. - EPP) - voted for the trade deal but against the fisheries agreement
Markus Pieper (Christlich Demokratische Union Deutschlands - EPP) - voted for the trade deal but abstained on the fisheries agreement
Hermann Winkler (Christlich Demokratische Union Deutschlands - EPP) - supported the fisheries agreement, but abstained on the trade deal
Ismaïl Ertug (Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands - S&D) - voted for the trade deal but against the fisheries agreement
Constanze Krehl (Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands - S&D) - voted for the trade deal but against the fisheries agreement
Kerstin Westphal (Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands - S&D) - did not vote on the trade deal (though present) and was absent for the vote on the fisheries agreement
Bernd Lange (Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands - S&D) - did not vote on the trade deal (though present) and was absent for the vote on the fisheries agreement


GREECE

Voted AGAINST the EU-Morocco agreements that will expressly be applied to Western Sahara:
Nikolaos Chountis (Popular Unity - GUE/NGL)
Stelios Kouloglou (Coalition of the radical Left - GUE/NGL): was absent on the trade vote but voted against the fisheries agreement
Kostadinka Kuneva (Coalition of the radical Left - GUE/NGL)
Notis Marias (Greece-The Alternative Road - ECR)
Dimitrios Papadimoulis (Coalition of the radical Left - GUE/NGL)
Sofia Sakorafa (MeRa25 - GUE/NGL)

Voted FOR the EU-Morocco agreements that will expressly be applied to Western Sahara:
Nikos Androulakis (Panhellenic Socialist Movement-Olive Tree - S&D)
Eva Kaili (Panhellenic Socialist Movement-Olive Tree - S&D): voted for the trade deal but was absent during the fisheries vote
Manolis Kefalogiannis (Nea Demokratia - EPP): voted for the trade deal but was absent during the fisheries vote
Georgios Kyrtsos (Nea Demokratia - EPP): voted for the trade deal but was absent during the fisheries vote
Elissavet Vozemberg-Vrionidi (Nea Demokratia - EPP): voted for the trade deal but was absent during the fisheries vote
Theodoros Zagorakis (Nea Demokratia - EPP)

ABSTAINED on the EU-Morocco agreements that will expressly be applied to Western Sahara:
Konstantinos Papadakis (Communist Party of Greece - NI): abstained on the trade deal but was absent during the fisheries vote

DID NOT VOTE (not present?) on the EU-Morocco agreements that will expressly be applied to Western Sahara
Maria Spyraki (Nea Demokratia - EPP) was absent for the two votes

Voted to include Western Sahara in one of the Agreements, and against the inclusion in the other
Giorgos Grammatikakis (The River - S&D): voted for the trade deal but against the fisheries agreement
Miltiadis Kyrkos (The River - S&D): voted for the trade deal but against the fisheries agreement


HUNGARY

Voted AGAINST the EU-Morocco agreements that will expressly be applied to Western Sahara:
Benedek Jávor (Párbeszéd)

Voted FOR the EU-Morocco agreements that will expressly be applied to Western Sahara:
Zoltán Balczó (Jobbik - NI)
Andrea Bocskor (Fidesz-KDNP - EPP)
Andor Deli (Fidesz-KDNP - EPP)
Tamás Deutsch (Fidesz-KDNP - EPP)
Norbert Erdős (Fidesz-KDNP - EPP)
Kinga Gál (Fidesz-KDNP - EPP)
András Gyürk (Fidesz-KDNP - EPP)
György Hölvényi (Fidesz-KDNP - EPP)
Lívia Jároka (Fidesz-KDNP - EPP)
Ádám Kósa (Fidesz-KDNP - EPP)
Csaba Molnár (DK - S&D)
József Szájer (Fidesz-KDNP - EPP)
Tibor Szanyi (MSZP - S&D) though abstained on the trade vote
István Újhelyi (MSZP - S&D)


IRELAND:

Voted AGAINST the EU-Morocco agreements that will expressly be applied to Western Sahara:
Lynn Boylan (Sinn Féin - GUE/NGL)
Matt Carthy (Sinn Féin - GUE/NGL)
Liadh Ni Riada (Sinn Féin - GUE/NGL)
Luke Ming Flanagan (Independent - GUE/NGL)

Voted FOR the EU-Morocco agreements that will expressly be applied to Western Sahara:
Deirdre Clune (Fine Gael Party - EPP)
Sean Kelly (Fine Gael Party - EPP)
Mairead McGuinness (Fine Gael Party - EPP)


ITALY

Voted AGAINST the EU-Morocco agreements that will expressly be applied to Western Sahara:
Patrizia Toia (PD - S&D): voted against the trade deal but was absent for the vote on the fisheries agreement
Giuseppina Picierno (PD - S&D): voted against the fisheries agreement but was absent for the trade vote
Elena Gentile (PD - S&D
Michela Giuffrida (PD - S&D): voted against the trade deal but was absent for the vote on the fisheries agreement
Eleonora Forenza (La Sinistra - GUE/NGL)
Fabio Massimo Castaldo (Movimento 5 Stelle - EFDD)
Ignazio Corrao (Movimento 5 Stelle - EFDD)
Eleonora Evi (Movimento 5 Stelle - EFDD)
Rosa D’Amato (Movimento 5 Stelle - EFDD): voted against the fisheries agreement but abstained on the trade vote
Piernicola Pedicini (Movimento 5 Stelle - EFDD): voted against the fisheries agreement but abstained on the trade vote
Marco Zullo (Movimento 5 Stelle - EFDD): voted against the fisheries agreement but abstained on the trade vote
Dario Tamburrano (Movimento 5 Stelle - EFDD)
Laura Ferrara (Movimento 5 Stelle - EFDD): voted against the fisheries agreement but abstained on the trade vote

Voted FOR the EU-Morocco agreements that will expressly be applied to Western Sahara:
Mercedes Bresso (PD - S&D)
Cécile Kyenge (PD - S&D): voted for the trade deal but abstained on the fisheries agreement
Paolo de Castro (PD - S&D)
Isabella De Monte (PD - S&D)
Simona Bonafè (PD - S&D)
Roberto Gualtieri (PD - S&D)
Nicola Danti (PD - S&D)
Andrea Cozzolino (PD - S&D)
Massimo Paolucci (PD - S&D)
Caterina Chinnici (PD - S&D)
Luigi Morgano (PD - S&D)
Giuseppe Ferrandino (PD - S&D)
Angelo Ciocca (Lega Nord - ENF): voted for the trade deal but abstained on the fisheries agreement
Marco Zanni (Lega Nord - ENF): voted for the trade deal but abstained on the fisheries agreement
Mara Bizzotto (Lega Nord - ENF): voted for the trade deal but abstained on the fisheries agreement
Remo Sernagiotto (Fratelli D'Italia - ECR): voted for the fisheries agreement but abstained on the trade deal
Elisabetta Gardini (Fratelli D'Italia - ECR): voted for the fisheries agreement but abstained on the trade deal
Raffaele Fitto (Fratelli D'Italia - ECR)
David Borrelli (currently +EUROPA, ex-5 Stelle - EFDD): voted for the trade deal but abstained on the fisheries agreement
Lara Comi (Forza Italia - EPP)
Massimiliano Salini (Forza Italia - EPP)
Alessandra Mussolini (Forza Italia - EPP)
Barbara Matera (Forza Italia - EPP): voted for the trade deal and was absent for the fisheries vote
Lorenzo Cesa (Forza Italia - EPP): voted for the fisheries agreement and was absent for the trade vote
Fulvio Martusciello (Forza Italia - EPP)
Aldo Patriciello (Forza Italia - EPP)
Salvatore Cicu (Forza Italia - EPP)

ABSTAINED on the EU-Morocco agreements that will expressly be applied to Western Sahara:
Brando Benifei (PD - S&D): abstained on the trade deal and was absent for the vote on the fisheries agreement
Danilo Oscar Lancini (Lega Nord - ENF): abstained on the fisheries agreement and was absent for the trade vote
Tiziana Beghin (Movimento 5 Stelle - EFDD)
Laura Agea (Movimento 5 Stelle - EFDD): abstained on the trade deal and was absent for the vote on the fisheries agreement

DID NOT VOTE (not present?) on the EU-Morocco agreements that will expressly be applied to Western Sahara
David Sassoli (PD - S&D)
Matteo Salvini (Lega Nord - ENF)
Antonio Tajani (Forza Italia - EPP)
Isabella Adinolfi (Movimento 5 Stelle - EFDD)

Voted to include Western Sahara in one of the Agreements, and against the inclusion in the other
Nicola Caputo (PD - S&D): voted for the trade agreement but against the fisheries agreement
Marco Affronte (Federazione dei Verdi - Greens/EFA): voted for the trade agreement but against the fisheries agreement
Daniela Aiuto (currently +EUROPA, ex-5 Stelle - EFDD): voted for the trade agreement but against the fisheries agreement


LATVIA

Voted AGAINST the EU-Morocco agreements that will expressly be applied to Western Sahara:
Miroslavs Mitrofanovs (Latvijas Krievu savienība - Greens/EFA)

Voted FOR the EU-Morocco agreements that will expressly be applied to Western Sahara:
Sandra Kalniete (Partija "VIENOTĪBA" - EPP)
Aleksejs Loskutovs (Partija "VIENOTĪBA" - EPP)
Andrejs Mamikins ("Saskaņa" sociāldemokrātiskā partija - S&D)
Kārlis Šadurskis (Partija "VIENOTĪBA" - EPP)
Inese Vaidere (Partija "VIENOTĪBA" - EPP)
Roberts Zīle (Nacionālā apvienība "Visu Latvijai!"-"Tēvzemei un Brīvībai/LNNK" - ECR)


LITHUANIA

Voted AGAINST the EU-Morocco agreements that will expressly be applied to Western Sahara:
Bronis Ropė (Lietuvos valstiečių ir žaliųjų sąjunga - Greens/EFA)

Voted FOR the EU-Morocco agreements that will expressly be applied to Western Sahara:
Laima Liucija Andrikienė (Tėvynės sąjunga-Lietuvos krikščionys demokratai - EPP)
Petras Auštrevičius (Lietuvos Respublikos liberalų sąjūdis - ALDE)
Vilija Blinkevičiūtė (Lietuvos socialdemokratų partija - S&D)
Antanas Guoga (Independent - EPP)
Valentinas Mazuronis (Independent - ALDE)
Rolandas Paksas (Partija Tvarka ir teisingumas - EFDD)
Valdemar Tomaševski (Lietuvos lenkų rinkimų akcija – Krikščioniškų šeimų sąjunga - ECR)


LUXEMBOURG

Voted AGAINST the EU-Morocco agreements that will expressly be applied to Western Sahara:
Tilly Metz (Déi Gréng-Les Verts - Greens/EFA)

Voted FOR the EU-Morocco agreements that will expressly be applied to Western Sahara:
Charles Goerens (Parti démocratique - ALDE)
Christophe Hansen (Parti chrétien social luxembourgeois - EPP)


MALTA

Voted AGAINST the EU-Morocco agreements that will expressly be applied to Western Sahara:
None

Voted FOR the EU-Morocco agreements that will expressly be applied to Western Sahara:
David Casa (Partit Nazzjonalista - EPP)
Roberta Metsola (Partit Nazzjonalista - EPP)
Miriam Dalli (Partit Laburista - S&D)
Marlene Mizzi (Partit Laburista -S&D)
Alfred Sant (Partit Laburista - S&D)


NETHERLANDS

Voted AGAINST the EU-Morocco agreements that will expressly be applied to Western Sahara:
Bas Eickhout (GroenLinks - Greens/EFA)
André Elissen (PVV - ENF)
Auke Zijlstra (PVV -ENF)
Olaf Stuger (PVV - ENF)
Marcel de Graaff (PVV - ENF): voted against the trade deal and was absent for the fisheries vote.
Anja Hazekamp ( Partij voor de Dieren - GUE/NGL)
Agnes Jongerius (PvdA - S&D)
Kati Piri (PvdA - S&D)
Paul Tang (PvdA - S&D)

Voted FOR the EU-Morocco agreements that will expressly be applied to Western Sahara:
Peter van Dalen (ChristenUnie - ECR)
Jan Huitema (VVD - ALDE)
Caroline Nagtegaal (VVD - ALDE)
Esther de Lange (CDA - EPP): voted for the trade deal and was absent for the fisheries vote.
Jeroen Lenaers (CDA - EPP)
Annie Schreijer-Pierik (CDA - EPP)

ABSTAINED on the EU-Morocco agreements that will expressly be applied to Western Sahara:
Sophia in 't Veld (D66 - ALDE)


POLAND

Voted AGAINST the EU-Morocco agreements that will expressly be applied to Western Sahara:
None.

Voted FOR the EU-Morocco agreements that will expressly be applied to Western Sahara:
Michał Boni (Koalicja Europejska - EPP)
Jerzy Buzek (Koalicja Europejska - EPP): voted for the trade deal and was absent for the fisheries vote
Andrzej Grzyb (Koalicja Europejska - EPP)
Krzysztof Hetman (Koalicja Europejska - EPP)
Danuta Maria Hübner (Koalicja Europejska - EPP)
Jarosław Kalinowski (Koalicja Europejska - EPP)
Janusz Lewandowski (Koalicja Europejska - EPP)
Elżbieta Katarzyna Łukacijewska (Koalicja Europejska - EPP)
Jan Olbrycht (Koalicja Europejska - EPP)
Marek Plura (Koalicja Europejska - EPP)
Dariusz Rosati (Koalicja Europejska - EPP)
Czesław Adam Siekierski (Koalicja Europejska - EPP)
Bogusław Sonik (Koalicja Europejska - EPP)
Róża Gräfin von Thun und Hohenstein (Koalicja Europejska - EPP)
Jarosław Wałęsa (Koalicja Europejska - EPP)
Ryszard Czarnecki (Prawo i Sprawiedliwość - ECR)
Csesław Hoc (Prawo i Sprawiedliwość - ECR)
Sławomir Kłosowski (Prawo i Sprawiedliwość - ECR)
Zdzisław Krasnodębski (Prawo i Sprawiedliwość - ECR)
Urszula Krupa (Prawo i Sprawiedliwość - ECR)
Zbigniew Kuźmiuk (Prawo i Sprawiedliwość - ECR)
Ryszard Legutko (Prawo i Sprawiedliwość - ECR)
Bolesław G. Piecha (Prawo i Sprawiedliwość - ECR)
Tomasz Piotr Poręba (Prawo i Sprawiedliwość - ECR)
Jadwiga Wiśniewska (Prawo i Sprawiedliwość - ECR)
Kosma Złotowski (Prawo i Sprawiedliwość - ECR)
Jacek Saryusz-Wolski (Prawo i Sprawiedliwość - NI)
Dobromir Andrzej Sośnierz (KORWiN - NI)
Bogusław Liberadzki (SLD - S&D)
Mirosław Piotrowski (Ruch Prawdziwa Europa-Europa Christi - ECR)
Marek Jurek (Lista Kukiz'15, ex-Prawica Rzeczypospolitej - ECR)

ABSTAINED on the EU-Morocco agreements that will expressly be applied to Western Sahara:
Robert Iwaszkiewicz (Wolność - EFDD)
Stanisław Józef Żółtek (Polexit - ENF): abstained on the fisheries agreement and was absent for the trade vote

DID NOT VOTE (not present?) on the EU-Morocco agreements that will expressly be applied to Western Sahara
Anna Elżbieta Fotyga (Prawo i Sprawiedliwość - ECR): absent for both votes


PORTUGAL

Voted AGAINST the EU-Morocco agreements that will expressly be applied to Western Sahara:
João Ferreira (Partido Comunista Português - GUE/NGL)
Marisa Matias (Bloco de Esquerda -GUE/NGL)
Miguel Viegas (Partido Comunista Português - GUE/NGL)

Voted FOR the EU-Morocco agreements that will expressly be applied to Western Sahara:
Carlos Coelho (Partido Social Democrata - EPP)
Nuno Melo (Partido Popular - EPP)
José Manuel Fernandes (Partido Social Democrata - EPP)
Paulo Rangel (Partido Social Democrata - EPP)
Sofia Ribeiro (Partido Social Democrata - EPP)
Fernando Ruas (Partido Social Democrata - EPP)
António de Sousa Marinho e Pinto (Partido Democrático Republicano - ALDE)
José Inácio Faria (Partido da Terra - EPP) , though abstained on the fisheries agreement
Cláudia Monteiro de Aguiar (Partido Social Democrata - EPP)
Francisco Assis (Partido Socialista - S&D)


ROMANIA

Voted AGAINST the EU-Morocco agreements that will expressly be applied to Western Sahara:
None.

Voted FOR the EU-Morocco agreements that will expressly be applied to Western Sahara:
Daniel Buda (PNL (new PNL) - EPP)
Christian-Silviu Busoi (PNL (new PNL) - EPP)
Marian-Jean Marinescu (PNL (new PNL) - EPP)
Siegfried Mureşan (PNL (new PNL) - EPP)
Adina-Ioana Valean (PNL (new PNL) - EPP)
Maria Grapini (PSD - S&D) 
Dan Nica (PSD - S&D) 
Norica Nicolai (ALDE Romania - ALDE)
Renate Weber (ALDE Romania - ALDE)
Csaba Sógor (UDMR - EPP)
Iuliu Winkler (UDMR - EPP)
Claudiu Ciprian Tănăsescu (UNPR - S&D)

DID NOT VOTE (not present?) on the EU-Morocco agreements that will expressly be applied to Western Sahara
Mihai Turcanu (PNL (new PNL) - EPP)


SLOVAKIA

Voted AGAINST the EU-Morocco agreements that will expressly be applied to Western Sahara:
Boris Zala (SMER-Sociálna demokracia - S&D): voted against the trade deal but was absent for the vote on the fisheries agreement

Voted FOR the EU-Morocco agreements that will expressly be applied to Western Sahara:
Pál Csáky (Strana mad'arskej komunity-Magyar Közösség Pártja - EPP)
Eduard Kukan (Independent - EPP)
Miroslav Mikolásik (Kresťanskodemokratické hnutie - EPP)
József Nagy (MOST-HÍD - EPP)
Anna Záborská (Kresťanskodemokratické hnutie - EPP)
Vladimír Maňka (SMER-Sociálna demokracia - S&D)
Monika Smolková (SMER-Sociálna demokracia - S&D)
Branislav Škripek (OBYČAJNÍ ĽUDIA - ECR)
Richard Sulík (Sloboda a Solidarita - ECR)
Jana Žitňanská (NOVA - ECR)

ABSTAINED on the EU-Morocco agreements that will expressly be applied to Western Sahara:
Ivan Štefanec (Kresťanskodemokratické hnutie - EPP)

Voted to include Western Sahara in one of the Agreements, and against the inclusion in the other
Monika Beňová (SMER-Sociálna demokracia - S&D): voted against the trade deal but for the fisheries agreement


SLOVENIA

Voted AGAINST the EU-Morocco agreements that will expressly be applied to Western Sahara:
Ivo Vajgl (DeSUS - Demokratična Stranka Upokojencev Slovenije - ALDE)
Igor Šoltes (Lista dr. Igorja Šoltesa)

Voted FOR the EU-Morocco agreements that will expressly be applied to Western Sahara:
Franc Bogovič (Slovenska ljudska stranka - EPP)
Alojz Peterle (Nova Slovenija – Krščanski demokrati - EPP)
Patricija Šulin (Slovenska demokratska stranka - EPP)
Romana Tomc (Slovenska demokratska stranka - EPP)
Milan Zver (Slovenska demokratska stranka - EPP)

Voted to include Western Sahara in one of the Agreements, and against the inclusion in the other
Tanja Fajon (Socialni demokrati - S&D)


SPAIN

Voted AGAINST the EU-Morocco agreements that will expressly be applied to Western Sahara:
Lidia Maria Senra Rodríguez (Compromís per Europa, ex-Alt. Galega de esquerda en Europa - GUE/NGL)
Miguel Crespo Urbán (UNIDAS PODEMOS, ex-PODEMOS - GUE/NGL)
Ana Miranda Paz (Ahora Repúblicas, ex-BNG - ...): voted against the trade deal, was not present for the fisheries vote
Jordi Solé i Ferrando (Ahora Repúblicas, ex-ERC - Greens/EFA)
Ernest Urtasun (UNIDAS PODEMOS, ex-Iniciativa per Catalunya Verds - Greens/EFA)
Javier Couso Permuy (Izquierda en positivo - GUE/NGL, ex-NI): voted against the trade deal and was absent on the fisheries agreement
Izaskun Bilbao Barandica (Coalición por una Europa Solidaria, ex-PNV - ALDE): voted against the trade deal but abstained on the fisheries agreement
Josep Maria Terricabras i Nogueras (Ahora Repúblicas, ex-ERC - Greens/EFA)

Voted FOR the EU-Morocco agreements that will expressly be applied to Western Sahara:
Javier Nart (CIUDADANOS - ALDE)
Maite Pagazaurtundúa Ruiz (CIUDADANOS, ex-UPyD - ALDE)
Pilar del Castillo Vera (PP - EPP)
Rosa Ferragut Estaràs (PP - EPP)
Esteban González Pons (PP - EPP)
Esther Herranz García (PP - EPP)
Antonio López-Istúriz White (PP - EPP)
Gabriel Mato (PP - EPP)
Francisco José Millán Mon (PP - EPP)
José Ignacio Salafranca Sánchez-Neyra (PP - EPP)
Clara Eugenia Aguilera García (PSOE - S&D)
Jonás Fernández (PSOE - S&D)
Iratxe García Pérez (PSOE - S&D)
Eider Gardiazabal Rubial (PSOE - S&D)
Javi López Fernández (PSOE, ex-PSC - S&D)
Juan Fernando López Aguilar (PSOE - S&D)
Inmaculada Rodríguez-Piñero Fernández (PSOE - S&D)


SWEDEN

Voted AGAINST the EU-Morocco agreements that will expressly be applied to Western Sahara:
Aleksander Gabelic (Arbetarepartiet-Socialdemokraterna - S&D)
Jytte Guteland (Arbetarepartiet-Socialdemokraterna - S&D)
Soraya Post (Feministiskt initiativ - S&D)
Malin Björk (Vänsterpartiet - GUE/NGL)
Jakop Dalunde (Miljöpartiet de gröna - Greens/EFA)
Bodil Valero (Miljöpartiet de gröna - Greens/EFA)
Fredrick Federley (Centerpartiet - ALDE)

Voted FOR the EU-Morocco agreements that will expressly be applied to Western Sahara:
None

ABSTAINED on the EU-Morocco agreements that will expressly be applied to Western Sahara:
Peter Lundgren (Sverigedemokraterna - ECR) - abstained on the trade agreement, not present for the vote on the fisheries agreement
Kristina Winberg (Sverigedemokraterna - ECR) - abstained on the trade agreement, not present for the vote on the fisheries agreement


UNITED KINGDOM

Voted AGAINST the EU-Morocco agreements that will expressly be applied to Western Sahara:
Rory Palmer (Labour - S&D)
David Martin (Labour - S&D)
Alex Mayer (Labour - S&D)
Claude Moraes (Labour - S&D)
Seb Dance (Labour - S&D): voted against the trade deal but abstained on the fisheries agreement
Judith Kirton-Darling (Labour - S&D)
Julie Ward (Labour - S&D)
Theresa Griffin (Labour - S&D)
John Howarth (Labour - S&D)
Clare Moody (Labour - S&D)
Neena Gill (Labour - S&D)
Siôn Simon (Labour - S&D)
Wajid Khan (Labour - S&D): voted against the fisheries agreement but was not present for trade vote
Jill Evans (Plaid Cymru - Greens/EFA)
Molly Scott Cato (Greens - Greens/EFA)
Martina Anderson (Sinn Féin - GUE/NGL)
Alyn Smith (SNP - Greens/EFA)
Nigel Farage (The Brexit Party - EFDD): voted against the trade deal but abstained on the fisheries agreement
Stuart Agnew (UKIP - ENF)
Gerard Batten (UKIP - ENF)
Mike Hookem (UKIP - NI)

Voted FOR the EU-Morocco agreements that will expressly be applied to Western Sahara:
Nosheena Mobarik (Conservatives - ECR)
Geoffrey Van Orden CBE (Conservatives - ECR)
John Flack (Conservatives - ECR)
Rupert Matthews (Conservatives - ECR)
Dr Charles Tannock (Conservatives - ECR)
Sajjad Karim (Conservatives - ECR)
Daniel Hannan (Conservatives - ECR)
Ashley Fox (Conservatives - ECR)
Daniel Dalton (Conservatives - ECR)
John Procter (Conservatives - ECR)
Amjad Bashir (Conservatives - ECR)
Anthea McIntyre (Conservatives - ECR)
Emma McClarkin (Conservatives - ECR)
Syed Kamall (Conservatives - ECR)
Nirj Deva DL (Conservatives - ECR)
Catherine Bearder (Liberal Democrats - ALDE): voted for the fisheries agreement but abstained on the trade deal
Diane Dodds (DUP - NI)
Richard Ashworth (Change UK - EPP)
Nathan Gill (The Brexit Party - EFDD)

Voted to include Western Sahara in one of the Agreements, and against the inclusion in the other
Paul Brannen (Labour - S&D): voted against the trade deal but for the fisheries agreement
Jonathan Bullock (The Brexit Party - EFDD): voted against the trade deal but for the fisheries agreement

DID NOT VOTE (not present?) on the EU-Morocco agreements that will expressly be applied to Western Sahara
Richard Corbett (Labour - S&D): not present for trade or fisheries vote.

 

UK High Court confirms EU Court rulings on Western Sahara

The UK Court has concluded that the UK government has acted unlawfully in granting preferential tariff treatment to products from Western Sahara through a deal with Morocco, and in granting fisheries quota's for fishing in Western Sahara under a fish deal with Morocco.

28 March 2019

EU Court reaffirms position on Western Sahara

Polisario has a case, but it should be pursued when the time is right, Court implies.

28 February 2019

Saharawi groups object to EU's Western Sahara trade plans

No less than 93 Saharawi groups have called on the EU institutions to respect the will of the people of Western Sahara when negotiating trade or fisheries agreements that will affect their occupied land.

03 July 2018

The controversial start-up of the annulled agreement

The EU-Moroccan agreement that was annulled by the Court of Justice of the EU yesterday was highly controversial even at the time when it was approved in 2012. Here is the story behind that approval.

11 December 2015