As the Spiegel reports with reference to confidential research documents, the Moroccan foreign secret service DGED was also involved at the highest level in influencing MEPs.
According to this, the DGED would have already recruited in 2019 the two Italian MEPs Pier Antonio Panzeri and Andrea Cozzolino, as well as Francesco Giorgi, parliamentary assistant and partner of the ousted Vice President of the EU Parliament, Eva Kaili. The aim was to influence the Social Democratic group in the European Parliament.
According to “Spiegel”, Abderrahim Atmun, Morocco’s current ambassador to Poland, was responsible for leading the trio. In addition, the three Italians would have had direct contact with the director-general of the secret service, Mohamed Yassine Mansouri. The news magazine quotes Belgian government circles as saying that Morocco has recently shown its involvement in issues such as fishing rights and Western Sahara, which is largely controlled by Rabat.
Panzeri, Kaili and Giorgi are currently in custody. They are charged with “criminal organisation, corruption and money laundering”. The Gulf Emirate of Qatar is said to have tried to influence European Union policy. Qatar denies any allegations.
(SDA)
Source: Blick
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
