Fourth Edition of Morocco-France Parliamentary Forum Takes Place in Paris

The fourth edition of Morocco-France Parliamentary Forum took place in Paris on December 12-14th, 2019 with the participation of the Speaker of the House of Representatives Habib El Malki, Speaker of the French National Assembly Richard Ferrand, Speaker of the French House of Senates Gérard Larcher, and first deputy speaker of the House of Councilors Abdessamad Kayouh. The Forum also witnessed the participation of the presidents of parliamentary groups and caucuses, the chairmen of the committees on foreign affairs and the Morocco-France friendship groups in the four Houses, and the Kingdom’s Ambassador in France Chakib Benmoussa.

The discussions in the Forum revolved around several topics of high interest to both countries, namely the role of parliamentary diplomacy in confronting the global challenges relating to climate change, consolidation of democracy, Morocco and France partnership in fostering the security and development in Africa, and the economic, territorial, and human dimensions of development.

On the sidelines of the Forum, Speaker of House of Representatives Habib El Malki held talks with Speaker of the French National Assembly Richard Ferrand. El Malki commanded the partnership linking the two institutions and expressed his gratitude for the French side hospitality. El Malki also called for consolidating the partnership between the two friendship groups of the two Houses, considering it an efficient mechanism for the representatives of the two people to debate and exchange ideas on issues of common interest, and calling for annual meetings.

El Malki affirmed the importance of executing a memorandum of understanding that stipulates intensive and constant work, as well as closeness between the two legislative institutions, which would demonstrate the convergence of views on numerous regional and international issues.

On his side, Speaker of the French National Assembly Richard Ferrand expressed his contentment with the organization of the Forum’s fourth edition in Paris, recalling the profoundness of the relations linking the two countries and the two institutions. Richard Ferrand confirmed his full engagement in giving more importance to the two friendship groups, exchanging delegations, officials, and experts, as well as his approval of the idea of a memorandum of understanding.

It is worth noting that the first edition of the Morocco-France Parliamentary Forum, which is a platform for dialogue and exchange of expertise between Moroccan Deputies and their French counterparts, was held in Rabat in 2013 while the second edition took place in Paris in 2015, and the third one in Rabat in 2018.