Exchange of views between the Congress and the Parliament of Morocco

Strasbourg, 10.07.2012 - A Congress delegation is to meet some members of the House of Councillors and House of Representatives of the Parliament of the Kingdom of Morocco in Rabat (Morocco) on 11 July 2012.  This exchange of views, on the draft legislation on advanced regionalisation in Morocco, will take place in the context of the Council of Europe's co-operation activities with the countries of the Mediterranean.

The Congress delegation will comprise Philippe Receveur, a member of the Chamber of Regions of the Congress, Minister, Republic and Canton of Jura (Switzerland), Luciano Caveri, a member of the Chamber of Regions of the Congress, Councillor of the Valle d’Aosta Region (Italy), and Antonella Cagnolati, Director of the Congress.  Prior to the exchange of views, meetings will take place with Karim Chellah, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Mohammed Cheikh Biadiallah, Speaker of the House of Councillors.

Mohammed Yatim, 1st Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and head of the national delegation of the Moroccan Parliament to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, and Philippe Receveur will open the exchange of views, which will begin with a general presentation of regionalisation in Europe by Nicolas Levrat, Director of the European Institute of the University of Geneva (Switzerland).

On the occasion of this official journey to Rabat, the Congress has also scheduled a meeting with some Moroccan local elected representatives in order to present to them European Local Democracy Week (ELDW).  Amongst the persons invited to participate in that meeting, which will take place on 10 July and be chaired by Fathallah Oualalou, Mayor of Rabat, are the Mayors of Casablanca, Fes, Agadir, Marrakesh and Tetouan.  ELDW is an annual European event coordinated by the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities.  During the Week, local authorities in Council of Europe member states organise initiatives and public activities at which they can meet citizens and get them involved in matters of local interest.  Possible participation by their authorities in this event will be discussed with the Moroccan local elected representatives.