Redirecting to /amz/node/147429 Redirecting to /amz/node/147429.

Conference organized by Moroccan Parliament and PACE Calls for Promotion of Joint Cooperation to Address the Challenges of Migration and Climate Change

02/05/2024

As part of the “Support to the development of the role of the Parliament in consolidating democracy in Morocco 2020-2024” project, financed by the European Union and implemented by the Council of Europe, the Parliament of the Kingdom of Morocco and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) organized a Conference to conclude the cooperation project on Tuesday, April 30, 2024, at the Seat of the House of Representatives, on the theme: “Migration and Climate Change: Which Relationship?”
In his opening address, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Rachid Talbi El Alami, recalled the content of the presentation made by His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist him, who has been chosen by the Heads of State and Government of the African Union countries as AU leader on the issue of migration since 2018, of the African Agenda on Migration. In this regard, His Majesty stressed that “Migration is a natural phenomenon which is part of the solution, not of the problem. We should adopt a positive stance on the issue of migration by highlighting the humanistic rationale of shared responsibility and solidarity.”
The Speaker of the House of Representatives pointed out that climate change has been a key factor in internal and cross-border migration, stressing the need for international solidarity to address these changes, as well as to implement what the international community agreed on at the Conferences of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
In addition, the Speaker of the House of Representatives called for political will on the part of wealthy countries and international donors to enable countries affected by climate change to access technologies facilitating a green and sustainable economy.
For his part, the Speaker of the House of Councilors, Hon. Enaam Mayara, affirmed that Morocco, aware of the geostrategic risks facing this region, which extend beyond our country to the northern Mediterranean, has taken the initiative to launch a series of regional cooperation projects designed to ease the burden of this difficult reality, These include His Majesty's initiative to strengthen the Sahel countries' access to the Atlantic Ocean and make its infrastructure available to them, thus contributing to the creation of an economic and social prosperity zone likely to strengthen the foundations of stability and limit migratory flows.
In the same vein, the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, H.E. Theódoros Roussópoulos, pointed out that adaptation to climate change requires the integration of migration as an essential element in international and regional strategies, through strengthening the capacity of individuals to adapt to climate change. These policies can also reinforce the resilience and sustainability of affected communities.
For her part, the Ambassador of the European Union in Rabat, H.E. Patricia Llombart Cussac, highlighted the risks of climate change and its impact on the environment, as well as its potential effects on populations, which calls for joint efforts to address these challenges through the establishment of a system of shared human values based on commitment and collective awareness within a framework of mutual trust, with the need to continue strengthening partnership in the field of migration.
The Conference featured the participation of members of the Moroccan Parliamentary Representation at the PACE, numerous chairpersons of parliamentary groups, members of both Houses of the Moroccan Parliament, members of PACE's Committee on Migration, Refugees, and Displaced Persons and the Committee on Social Affairs, Health, and Sustainable Development, as well as representatives of the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development.
The speakers praised the migration policy adopted by the Kingdom of Morocco under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may Allah assist him, particularly with regard to the integration of migrants from other African countries and certain Middle Eastern countries, on the one hand, and in terms of the fight against irregular migration, on the other, based on respect for the human rights and dignity of migrants driven by conditions of poverty and disasters resulting from climate imbalances.
They also hailed the Kingdom of Morocco's policies and commitment to climate and migration issues, and referred to the country's Constitution in this respect, as well as national legislation on migration, asylum, the environment, and water management.
Participants in the Conference also stressed that the integration of migrants and refugees is a participatory process that requires the cooperation of both parties: the host country and the migrants themselves, considering that their integration is not a burden, but rather an investment in human resources offering mutual opportunities for the future.
It is worth noting that the Conference highlighted the importance of mutual cooperation in tackling the challenges of climate change, particularly in the Mediterranean region, in a humane and effective way, and strengthening the capacity to adapt to these changes, with the need to adopt an approach that integrates environmental rights into legislation and public policies, in addition to the importance of international and regional cooperation in tackling their repercussions on migration, food security, and sustainable development.
Similarly, the speakers considered that respect for values, traditions, and identity is essential to the success of the integration process, stressing that integration does not mean abandoning one's original identity. In this respect, they emphasized that governments and civil society play an important role in providing the necessary support to migrants and refugees for their integration into society.
Besides, the participants called for greater international cooperation at all levels to encourage the integration of migrants and refugees, for more resources to be allocated to support integration programs, for greater awareness of migration and refugee issues, and for the fight against stereotypes and misinformation targeting migrants and refugees.
Speakers also affirmed that the Paris Agreement, the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 and the Sustainable Development Agenda - 2030 are all interconnected commitments and provide a mutually reinforcing framework that must be implemented simultaneously.
During the Conference, emphasis was also placed on the involvement of people affected by disasters, climate change, and environmental degradation, in particular youth, calling for their active and informed participation in relevant decision-making processes, risk assessment, and the planning and implementation of measures based on human rights and decent work, safeguarding the interests of children, and taking gender equality into account.
During the meeting, participants called for the facilitation of safe, orderly and regular migration by protecting, promoting, and asserting the rights of migrants and their local communities, and by ensuring regular migration channels.
Finally, speakers stressed the importance of continuing cooperation between the Moroccan Parliament and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe at political, institutional, and technical levels, on these and other vital issues, thus consolidating the ongoing relationship between the two institutions.

APCE