In His Participation in the Meeting of the Bureau and Expanded Bureau of the PA-UfM, Speaker of the House of Representatives Urges More Solidarity with Africa

Speaker of the House of Representatives Habib El Malki took part, on Wednesday, January 27^th, 2021, in the meeting of the Bureau and expanded Bureau of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean (PA-UfM), held via videoconference.

In his statement as Vice-President of the PA-UfM, the Speaker of the House of Representatives affirmed the importance of giving more dynamism to the Assembly's action, noting several challenges that arise in the Mediterranean Basin, which require joining forces to face them. In this respect, he noted the severe repercussions of COVID-19 on the region's economies, calling for seizing this juncture to consolidate regional cooperation and cooperative work to achieve economic take-off and comprehensive development during the post-pandemic period.

On the same occasion, Mr. El Malki shed light on the efforts of the Kingdom of Morocco in several vital questions that are a priority in the Mediterranean region, stating mainly sustainable development, security, peace, migration, and the fight against terrorism. The House's Speaker also recalled the organization by Morocco of the Climate Summit COP22 in Marrakech in 2016, its international leadership in the sector of renewable energies, and the Kingdom's keenness to share its experience in this area with the neighboring countries, namely African ones.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives highlighted that Morocco, under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, managed to bring closer the points of view between the Libyan parties, which happened thanks to the credibility of Morocco and its keenness to facilitate the inter-Libyan dialogue without intruding the country's internal affairs. The Speaker also noted that "the security and stability of Libya is an integral part of Morocco's security and stability," warning, at the same time, against the foreign interference that may complicate the Libyan crisis and delay its resolution.

As for migration, the Speaker of the House of Representatives called the European side to provide more support and solidarity to Africa, especially in the light of the pandemic. In this respect, he affirmed that helping in the generalization of the COVID-19 vaccine will ensure the health security of both Africa and Europe.

Besides, Mr. El Malki noted that Morocco adopts a multidimensional policy in combating terrorism, which relies on cooperation with all countries, especially the European and African ones. Mr. El Malki added that “Morocco enjoys great respect and consideration from the international community.”

The meeting was attended by President of the European Parliament David Sassoli, President of the Spanish House of Representatives Meritxell Batet Lamaña, the chairpersons of the PA-UfM committees, while the Moroccan side was also represented by Mustapha Ibrahimi, the Chairperson of the Committee on Improving Quality of Life, Exchanges between Civil Societies, and Culture at the Assembly.