10 Moroccan municipalities commit to ELDW 2012

Antonella Cagnolati, Congress Director, addressing Moroccan representatives of Local Authorities	Exchange of views with Moroccan representatives of Local Authorities
Exchange of views with Moroccan representatives of Local Authorities	Group photo

Strasbourg, 11.07.2012 - In the context of activities under the Congress' co-operation policy with Morocco, Antonella Cagnolati, Director of the Congress, met elected representatives of several Moroccan local authorities in Rabat (Morocco) on Tuesday 10 July 2012.

Held with a view to starting practical co-operation in the local democracy sphere, this meeting was chaired by Fathallah Oualalou, Mayor of Rabat.  The guests, elected representatives of 15 municipalities, including the Mayors of Fes, Tetouan and Agadir, attended a presentation of European Local Democracy Week (ELDW) and of its main theme for 2012: "Human rights make for more inclusive communities".

Among those who addressed the meeting was Allal Sekrouhi, Director General of Local Authorities at Morocco's Ministry of the Interior, who welcomed this form of co-operation between the Congress and Moroccan authorities.

In support of the strengthening of public participation in decision-taking, local elected representatives will have at their disposal a valuable tool for complying with the principles set out in the Charter for Communities in force in Morocco.

The meeting concluded with 10 municipalities stating that they would participate in ELDW, committing themselves to take initiatives involving public participation in October 2012.