The Second Vice-Chairperson of the Committee on Social Affairs, Health, and Sustainable Development of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Olena Khomenko, praised, Thursday in Marrakech, Morocco’s efforts in promoting democratic development.
“We appreciate Morocco’s efforts invested in promoting democratic development in the country and beyond,” stated Khomenko in a speech on the occasion of the two-day meeting in Marrakech of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Committee on Social Affairs, Health, and Sustainable Development.
Khomenko stated that the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe “is committed to contributing to democratic development in Morocco,” recalling that the Standing Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) conducted, in 2019, “a positive assessment” of the results of the implementation of the partnership with the Moroccan Parliament, which gained, in 2011, the partner for democracy status of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE).
“As members of the Committee on Social Affairs, Health, and Sustainable Development, we are particularly interested in the development of Sustainable Development Goal 6, which aims to guarantee universal access to water and sanitation and to ensure sustainable management of water resources,” stated Khomenko.
In a similar context, Khomenko praised Morocco’s “commendable” commitment to sustainable development and renewable energy, noting that this meeting is an opportunity to discover more about Moroccan initiatives in these fields.
For her part, the president of the Moroccan delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Salma Benaziz, stated that the organization of this meeting for the first time on African soil is an opportunity for the Continent to “set its vision on the social, health and environmental challenges that Europe, the Mediterranean, and the world currently face.”
Benaziz also stressed that the interaction between the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) members and their partners “is particularly relevant in the current context where major regional, intercontinental and international challenges arise on the parliamentary scene, noting that challenges related to politics, security, health, food, energy, and the environment serve as a reminder of our common destiny and the duty of solidarity.”
“Thanks to our partnership for democracy with the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), soon to celebrate its 12th anniversary, we conclude that democracy, though not a global solution, can enhance and strengthen the historical and institutional heritage of a great nation such as Morocco,” stated Benazi.
The Moroccan diplomat emphasized that “this was a winning bet for Morocco, which is now ambitious to make its way towards a more advanced partnership with the Assembly, to set itself up as a model that can have a knock-on effect on partners who are still hesitant to take the step.”
In a similar context, Benaziz stressed that the Committee on Social Issues, Health, and Sustainable Development’s work “will surely give a new pace to the parliamentary dynamics that generate urgent social, health, and environment issues.”
This meeting’s agenda focuses on the adoption of the proposed minutes from the earlier sessions held in Strasbourg, as well as the selection of upcoming meetings’ locations and times.
Participants in this meeting will discuss issues related to the promotion of democracy, rights, and the environment in international trade, the public health emergency: the need for a holistic approach to multilateralism and health care”, the sustainable energy transition, the right to housing, as well as other topics.