In a statement issued today, the President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, Leendert Verbeek, has expressed solidarity with the Moroccan authorities following the devastating earthquake that struck the country today, on 9 September 2023:

“I would like to express my deepest condolences to the victims and their families as well as my full solidarity and support to the authorities in the affected towns and regions and to the relief workers who are still trying to save lives. I also extend my condolences to the Morocco delegation to the Congress, Morocco being a partner for local democracy of the Congress.

I call on local and regional authorities in Council of Europe member States to provide possible assistance to Moroccan authorities in this challenging moment, to help them to rebuild their communities hit by the disaster.”

Morocco was the first country to obtain the “Partner for Local Democracy” status from the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities at its 36th Session in April 2019. This status offers the Council of Europe’s neighbouring countries an ideal platform for dialogue and institutional contacts with their European counterparts.