Midrand: Delegation of the Moroccan Parliament Takes Part in Second Session of Sixth Legislative Term of the Pan-African Parliament held on May 8-June 2, 2023

A delegation of the Moroccan Parliament is taking part in the Second Session of the Sixth Legislative Term of the Pan-African Parliament, held on May 8-June 2, 2023, in Midrand, South Africa.

The delegation comprises Rep. Laila Dahi (Group of the National Rally of Independents), Rep. Khadija Arouhal (Group of Progress and Socialism), Rep. Abdessamad Haiker (Parliamentary Caucus of the Justice and Development), Cllr. Youssef Iddi (Socialist Group), and Cllr. Hanae Belkheir (Group of the General Union of Moroccan Workers).

The Session will feature a seminar on the African Union's theme for 2023: "Accelerating the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA): The strategic importance of the Pan-African Parliament." In this regard, the participants will discuss the role of the Pan-African Parliament in bringing this leading continental project to success, given that the project is an essential tool to achieve the vision of African countries towards continental economic complementarity and the structural transformation of the African economy. Besides, several experts of the African Union will give presentations where they inform the participants of the details and objectives of this major project.

In addition to the meetings of the Permanent Committees and the Regional and Ad Hoc Caucuses, the agenda of the Session includes the convention of the Third African Parliamentarians Summit on the Climate Policy and Equity, a high-level meeting with the representatives of the European Parliament and the Civil Society Forum, in addition to presentations and discussions over peace and security in Africa in the light of the latest worrying developments of conditions in several African States.

It should be noted that the Pan-African Parliament gathers the parliamentarians of the Member States of the African Union. The PAP was created on the basis of the AU’s Constitutive Act and initiated its work officially on March 18, 2004. The jurisdiction of the PAP covers the insurance of the full participation of African people in the Continent’s development and economic complementarity. The institution currently enjoys a consultative status and has supervision over the budget of the African Union.

Each Member State of the PAP is represented by five parliamentarians from the Majority and the Opposition, including at least one woman, elected or appointed by the parliaments and national legislative institutions.