Morocco-Spain: Workshop on decentralized cooperation between local authorities

On Monday in Rabat, the Moroccan Association of Presidents of Prefectural and Provincial Councils (AMPCPP) organized a workshop on decentralized cooperation between Moroccan local authorities and their counterparts in the communities of Andalusia and the Canary Islands.

The aim of this workshop, which is part of the strong impetus being given to relations between Morocco and Spain, is to strengthen relations between Moroccan and Spanish local authorities.This is in line with the objectives set by the Association for cooperation and partnership with government authorities and national and international non-governmental organizations with the same objectives.

On this occasion, AMPCPP President Abdelaziz Derouiche highlighted the historic and genuine relations between Morocco and Spain, which have enjoyed a sustained dynamic, recalling that Morocco is now Spain's leading trading partner on the African continent.

He also cited the presence of over a thousand Spanish companies in Morocco, as well as the award to Morocco, Spain and Portugal of the joint organization of the 2030 World Cup, a historic event in terms of its sporting, geopolitical, cultural, human and economic dimensions.

To support this momentum in bilateral relations, Mr. Derouiche Derouiche emphasized that the local authorities and regional and prefectural councils of the two kingdoms are called upon to supportto this new stage, through fruitful decentralized cooperation, noting that this workshop would provide an opportunity to discuss the two countries' experience in this field.He noted that the workshop would provide an opportunity to discuss the experience of the two countries in this field, to examine ways of strengthening relations between the two parties, and to exchange best practices in local management, particularly at a time when local authorities around the world are facing the same challenges.

He also noted that the decentralization process in Morocco has undergone far-reaching reforms in recent years, enabling local authorities to position themselves as key players in accelerating the development of the country.This has enabled local authorities to position themselves as key players in accelerating the implementation of economic dynamics and strengthening democracy and development in the Kingdom.

For his part, Mohamed Chakir, from the Ministry of the Interior's General Directorate for Local Authorities, said that cooperation between Moroccan and Spanish local authorities had two main focuses.Spain focuses on two main areas: bilateral relations between local and regional authorities, and a cooperation program for local and regional development to implement the strategic plan for local and regional authorities.

He cited several twinning agreements signed with Spanish local authorities, including Rabat-Seville, Rabat-Madrid, Chefchaouen-Ronda, Fès-Cordoba, in addition to cooperation on rural communes in Morocco and training in communications to produce strategic communication plans.

For her part, Nada El Jarid, Head of the Division of Relations with Non-State Actors at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Residing in Africa, was pleased to announce that she had been invited to take part in a training course on "Cooperation with Non-State Actors in Morocco".ration Africaine et des Marocains résidant à l'étranger, affirmed that the Ministry is working to strengthen the role of local and regional authorities, in accordance with the High Instructions of HM King Mohammed VI.the High Instructions of HM King Mohammed VI, to support parallel diplomacy, noting that the various departments work in coordination with diplomatic representations and consular centers abroad to support decentralized international cooperation, which is of great importance in strengthening bilateral relations.

On this occasion, she reiterated the Ministry's total commitment to supporting local capacity-building and the exchange of experience between local authorities, and to promoting the development of the local economy.riences between local authorities, as part of a vision of solidarity that opens the way to good governance and improved living standards for citizens.

Concepcion Brito Nunez, President of the Canary Islands Federation of Municipalities, described the workshop as an important opportunity to explore new opportunities for cooperation between the two regions.s of cooperation between the two countries' local authorities, and to exchange best practices for better management of local affairs and local development.

Ms. Nunez identified several areas of potential cooperation between Moroccan and Canary Islands local authorities, particularly in the economic and cultural fields, while taking advantage of the geographical proximity between the two countries.

Taking his turn to speak, José Enrique Millo Rocher, Secretary for External Action to the European Union and Cooperation in the Government of the Region of Andalusia, welcomed this initiative by theAMPCPP initiative, which reinforces the solid cooperation strategy between Morocco and Spain, and is a further step towards working together and seeking new avenues of collaboration and instruments to finance this collaboration.

He also expressed the willingness of both parties to further consolidate these relations, saying he was "convinced that by working together, we can achieve better results".

The AMPCPP, created on January 28, 2019, is made up of the presidents of the prefectural and provincial councils of the Kingdom of Morocco. Its aim is to create a body that will enable them to make an effective contribution to reinforcing the process of administrative decentralization and making the advanced regionalization project a reality in Morocco, while strengthening the associative dynamics of Moroccan local authorities.

Source: www.mapexpress.ma/