Strasbourg: Partnership for Democracy of the Kingdom of Morocco with the PACE Reaches a New Milestone
The Moroccan Parliamentary Representation at the PACE is taking part, since Monday, June 24, 2024, in the proceedings of the 3rd Part of the 2024 Ordinary Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, held in Strasbourg.
The Moroccan parliamentarians took part in the plenary sittings and the proceedings of the various PACE committees, namely the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy; the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights; the Committee on Social Affairs, Health, and Sustainable Development, the Committee on Migration, Refugees, and Displaced Persons, the Committee on Culture, Science, Education, and Media; and the Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination.
One of the highlights of Session was the plenary’s adoption of resolution entailing the amendment of some provisions of the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly. This resolution is of particular interest to Morocco as a partner for democracy, insofar as the status enjoyed by the Moroccan parliament since 2011 has just been strengthened through new prerogatives granted to partners, such as the right to attend meetings of the Standing Committee, the right to table motions for recommendations and resolutions and to table amendments co-signed by a member of the Assembly, the right to request topical debates and to be designated to open such debates, the right to table written statements and the right to be designated as rapporteur for certain information missions.
In addition, under the terms of the resolution, members of partner delegations may now address written questions to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe for oral response.
As a model partner, the Moroccan parliamentary delegation has just reached a decisive milestone in its institutional relationship with the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, which thus recognizes the significant efforts made by the Kingdom in its pursuit of democratic renewal. The new prerogatives granted are perfectly in line with Morocco's demand for a more advanced status with the PACE.