House of Representatives Adopts One Government Bill on Higher Education and Ratifies Seven Bilateral and Multilateral International Agreements
The House of Representatives adopted, on Monday, May 29, 2023, a Government Bill on higher education and ratified seven bilateral and multilateral international agreements. The adoption took place during a legislative plenary sitting chaired by the Speaker of the House, Hon. Rachid Talbi El Alami, with the participation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccan Expatriates, Mr. Nasser Bourita, and the Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research, and Innovation, Mr. Abdellatif Miraoui.
At the start of the sitting, the House adopted by a majority of votes Government Bill 01.23 amending and supplementing Dahir operating as Law 1.93.364 of Rabii II 19, 1414 (October 6, 1993), on the creation of the Hassan II Science and Techniques Academy. The Bill falls under the national and international context marked by the acceleration of transformations in various areas of science and technologies, which requires adopting proactive approaches.
Per this law, the number of the members of the Hassan II Science and Techniques Academy, both residents and participants, will increase from 60 to 80 members, which will enable the Academy to accomplish the missions entrusted to it, particularly with regard to evaluating the quality of the projects presented to it and examining their scientific value and adequacy as part of national priorities.
During the same sitting, the House ratified seven international instruments by unanimity of votes, including two bilateral agreements and five multilateral instruments. The ratified agreements are:
Bilateral agreements :
- Government Bill 46.22 ratifying the Agreement between the Kingdom of Morocco and the Republic of Djibouti for Reciprocal Investment Promotion and Protection, concluded in Rabat on July 25, 2022. The Agreement aims to encourage investments between the two countries and promote communication between private companies to contribute to sustainable development, create job opportunities, transfer technologies, and decrease obstacles investors face by providing relevant facilitations and licenses.
- Government Bill 49.22 ratifying the Agreement on Air Services between the Government of the Kingdom of Morocco and the Government of the Republic of Cabo Verde, concluded in Dakhla on August 31, 2022. The Agreement falls within the scope of the mutual desire of the two countries to promote an international air transport system based on just competition between air transport companies and advance international air transport to offer competitive prices and services to passengers and shippers in open markets.
Multilateral instruments:
. Government Bill 17.22 ratifying the Convention of the African Energy Commission, done in Lusaka, Zambia, on July 11, 2001. The Convention aims to create the African Energy Commission and set its seat in Algeria. The Commission shall gather the member States of the Organization of African Unity to advance the existing policies, strategies, research, and plans elaborated by the Member States.
. Government Bill 34.22 ratifying the Constitution of the African Civil Aviation Commission, adopted in Dakar on December 16, 2009. The Constitution aims to coordinate the matters linked to civil aviation in Africa and cooperate with the International Civil Aviation Organization and the other relevant organizations in order to advance civil aviation in the Continent.
. Government Bill 45.22 ratifying the Arab Agreement to Regulate Passenger Land Transport between and across the Arab States, adopted in Cairo on September 6, 2006. The Agreement aims to consolidate and advance the social and economic links between the member States of the League of Arab States, encourage tourism between Arab States, and abolish the restrictions and obstacles of the international land transport of passengers between the member States of the League.
. Government Bill 36.22 ratifying the Seat Agreement between the Government of the Kingdom of Morocco and the Francophone University Association on establishing the seat of the International Academy of the Scientific Francophonie, concluded in Rabat on May 28, 2022. The clauses of the Agreement stipulate granting the seat of the Academy and its personnel some facilitations with regard to public services and the temporary admission regime to import tools, equipment, and cars devoted to the official usage of the Academy.
. Government Bill 92.21 ratifying Convention No. 148 concerning the Protection of Workers against Occupational Hazards in the Working Environment due to Air Pollution, Noise, and Vibration, adopted by the General Conference of the International Labor Organization at Its 63rd Session in Geneva on June 20, 1977. The Convention aims to offer workers an adequate working environment that complies with the provisions related to occupational health and safety by protecting them against occupational hazards due to air pollution, noise, and vibration.