Helsinki: Delegation of the Foreign Affairs, National Defense, Islamic Affairs, and Moroccan Expatriates Committee Received at the Finnish Parliament

Within the scope of implementing the strategy of the House of Representatives aimed at promoting and consolidating institutional cooperation and consultation as a lever for parliamentary diplomacy, a delegation from the Foreign Affairs, National Defense, Islamic Affairs, and Moroccans Expatriates Committee initiated today a working visit to Helsinki. 

Led by Rep. Salma Benaziz, Chairperson of the Committee, and including Rep. Chaoui Belassal (Constitutional, Democratic, and Social Group) and Rep. Errafaa Maoulainine (Group of Progress and Socialism), the delegation was received this morning in the presence of His Majesty’s Ambassador to Helsinki, H.E. Mohamed Achgalou, by the Speaker of the Finnish Parliament, Hon. Jussi Halla-Aho.

During the meeting, the Speaker of the Finnish Parliament praised the excellent relations between the two countries. In the same regard, he noted that the quality of the welcome extended to him during his visit to Rabat by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Rachid Talbi El Alami, in May 2024, reflects the depth of the friendship bonds uniting Morocco and Finland, which this year celebrated the 65th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic relations. 

He also hailed his country's support for the Moroccan proposal of autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty over our southern provinces, as announced in the joint communique issued following the meeting held, on August 6 in Helsinki, between the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccan Expatriates, Mr. Nasser Bourita, and his Finnish counterpart, Ms. Elina Valtonen.

On this occasion, the members of the Moroccan delegation reviewed the main projects of Moroccan legislation, particularly the modernization of the legal system concerning the Family Code and the Code of Civil Procedure. They also underscored the importance of the role that both legislative institutions can play in further consolidating relations between Morocco and Finland. 

Later that morning, the Moroccan parliamentary delegation was received for a working lunch by members of the Foreign Affairs Committee. The meeting focused on the Royal Atlantic Initiative, social issues, migration, and the business climate in Morocco, with particular emphasis on our country's potential for Finnish investors in agriculture, high technology, and renewable energies, among others.

In the afternoon, the Moroccan delegation met the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Group of the National Coalition Party (the ruling party), MP Matias Marttinen, who put into perspective the evolution of democratic practice in Finland, where women have been voting since 1906 (the first in the world) and currently represent 90 of the 200 members of Parliament, ten of whom are under the age of 30.

For their part, the Moroccan Representatives highlighted the rapidly evolving role of women and youth in the Parliament. They also praised Morocco's exemplary partnership with the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the close ties it entertains with European institutions, primarily the European Parliament.

The Moroccan delegation will conclude its visit tomorrow morning by meeting the Director General of the Department for Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America, Ms. Anna-Kaisa Heikkinen, and the Director of the Unit for Northern and Western Africa at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ms. Krista Napola.