"The impression I have at the moment is that there is no doubt about development in the region," Lalonde told the press. She is part of a delegation of MEPs, members of INTA Committee who are currently on a working visit to Morocco.

According to her, the objective of this trip is "to check on the ground whether all projects benefit the population …”.

"For the time being, it is clear that these projects are creating jobs for young people and the local population," she stressed.

Asked about the possibility of approval by the European Parliament of the renewal of the Morocco-EU fisheries agreement, she noted that "it is not possible to put a brake on economic development in a region that needs it".

In addition to Lalonde, the delegation is composed of Italian Tiziana Beghin from the Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy (EFDD) group, Finnish Heidi Hautala from the Green group, and British David Martin from the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats group.

The delegation held a series of meetings with representatives of the public authorities, elected officials and civil society organizations in the Laayoune-Sakia El Hamra region to learn about the "impact and benefits of the Morocco-European Union fisheries agreement" for the population of the southern provinces.

News and events on Western Sahara issue/ CORCAS