News 2019

Indietro Morocco – first “Partner for local democracy”

In a resolution adopted today by the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, the Kingdom of Morocco was granted the status of “Partner for local democracy” with this assembly of local and regional elected representatives from the Organisation’s 47 member states. This makes it the first country to enjoy this status, which offers the Council of Europe’s neighbouring countries an ideal platform for dialogue and institutional contacts with their European counterparts.

The Moroccan delegation will comprise 6 representatives and 6 substitutes who will be able to sit alongside Congress members and contribute to the debates during sessions – albeit without the right to vote – and to the work of its monitoring, current affairs and governance committees.

“This application for partner status shows Morocco’s interest in our work and reflects the excellent relations between the Congress and the Moroccan authorities at all levels. It is in this promising context that we look forward to the ambitious co-operation work that is about to begin”, said Piero Fassino, spokesperson on the South-Mediterranean Partnership.

On 3 April 2019, Mohand LAENSER, President of the Region of Fez-Meknès, Chair of the Association of Moroccan Regions (ARM) and head of the Moroccan delegation, and Abdelouahhab EL JABRI, Governor, and head of the Co-operation and Documentation Division of the Directorate General of Local Authorities of the Moroccan Ministry of the Interior, will address the Congress members. The debate will begin with a presentation of the South-Mediterranean Partnership by the Congress spokespersons, Piero FASSINO and Constance DE PELICHY (France, EPP/CCE).

The Moroccan delegation to take part in the 36^th session will be made up of 9 members, including the 3 chairs of the Moroccan associations of local and regional authorities – the Moroccan Association of Chairs of Municipal Councils (AMPCC), the Moroccan Association of Chairs of Provincial and Prefectural Councils (AMPCPP) and the ARM. The delegation will hold bilateral exchanges of views with Anders KNAPE, President of the Congress, Xavier CADORET, President of the Chamber of Local Authorities, Gunn-Marit HELGESEN, President of the Chamber of Regions, and the chairs of the political groups.

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The decision to grant partner status follows an application made to the Congress on 30 May 2018 by the Moroccan Ministry of the Interior, the AMPCC (Moroccan Association of Chairs of Municipal Councils) and the ARM (Association of Moroccan Regions).

Morocco has acceded to several Council of Europe Conventions and Partial Agreements and takes part in co-operation activities in the context of the Neighbourhood Partnership. The Moroccan Parliament has partner for democracy status with the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.