7 December 2022, Marrakesh, Morocco – The Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM) inaugurated the Constitutive Session of the Marrakesh PAM Economic Parliamentary Forum, kindly hosted by the House of Councilors of the Kingdom of Morocco, in Marrakesh.
This opportune event gathered more than 300 participants from 25 national and regional parliaments, and more than 50 delegations from international organizations, the private sectors, academia and the civil society. Delegates discussed ways to promote, through the active involvement of parliamentarians, a paradigm shift in addressing the main socio-economic and climate-related challenges affecting the regions by proposing practical actions including legislative measures for direct and long-term change.
High-level keynote speakers addressed the Opening Session, including H.E. Hon. Aziz Akhannouch, Head of Government of the Kingdom of Morocco; the President of the House of Councilors of Morocco H.E. Hon. Enaam Mayara; the President of the House of Representative of the Kingdom of Morocco H.E. Mr. Rachid Talbi El Alami; the Director-General of the WTO H.E. Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala ; the President of the Federal National Council (UAE) H.E. Mr. Saqr Ghobash; the President of the Pan-African Parliament H.E. Sen. Chief Fortune Zephania Charumbira; the President of the Senate of the Republic of Zimbabwe H.E. Hon. Mabel Memory Chinomona; the Speaker of the Arab Parliament H.E. Mr. Abdel Abdulraham Alasoomi, the Deputy Speaker of the Egyptian House of Representative and PAM President Emeritus Hon. Abou El Enein (Egypt); the UNIDO Managing Director Mr. Ciyong Zou and the President of the General Confederation of Enterprises of Morocco H.E. Mr. Chakib Alj.
During his speech, PAM President Hon. Roque affirmed that "today we have a historical opportunity to advance the concrete project of creating an integrated economic and energy community between Euro-Mediterranean and Gulf countries". PAM President Emeritus Hon. Migliore - who conceived the idea of such a forum - recalled the crucial role of Morocco and the whole of Africa in facing a “new world order to fight today’s global challenges”.
On Day one of the Forum, two plenary sessions took place.
The First Plenary Session untitled “The Euro-Mediterranean and Gulf Economic Zone. A more financially and commercially integrated region and the role of the private sector” was moderated by PAM President Emeritus and President of PAM’s 2nd Standing Committee Hon. Karim Darwish (Egypt).
Keynote Speakers included H.E. Walter Robinson Verri Piriz (Uruguay) Vice Minister for the Industry and Energy, Mr. Ciyong Zou Managing Director UNIDO; PAM President Emeritus Hon. Abou El Enein (Egypt), Dr. Said El Hachimi (WTO), Mr. Djibrilla Adamou Issa (World Bank), Prof. Gianfranco Vento (Cassa di Risparmio of San Marino), Mr. Ignacio Garcia Alves (Arthur D Little), Mr. Carmine Bruno (Harmonic Innovation group), Mr. Younes Benakki (Economic, social and environmental Council of Morocco), and Mr. Badr Alioua (CGEM, Morocco).
Speakers agreed that the region is facing multiple crises exacerbated by exacerbated by the repercussions of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Stronger trade ties and shared investments are needed to ensure both energy and food security for all the countries of the region. Climate change has been unanimously recognized as a shared challenge for which stronger cooperation and increased regional investments in climate resilience and renewable energy transition are needed. Innovation is key to boost the economy. Funding mechanisms and public-private partnership should also be promoted. Finally, investing in human capital, including youth and women, was seen as crucial for the economic development of the region.
The Second Plenary Session untitled “Threats to energy security – ensuring affordable supply, while embracing the Green Transition and the SDGs in the fight against Climate Change” was moderated by PAM President Emeritus Sen. Lhou Lmarbouh (Morocco).
During the session, guest speakers included the Chairman of the World Bank and IMF Parliamentary Forum Hon. Liam Byrne, the Director of the Priority Action Programme at UNEP/MAP Ms. Zeljka Skaricic, the Head of the European Green Deal Unit and European Energy Community Mr. Adam Cwetsch, the Director of MEDREG Mr. Hasan Ozkoc, the Member of the Executive Board, National Electricity Regulatory Authority Mr. Ahmed Touhami, Prof. Carlo Crea of the World Energy Council, the MED-TSO Secretary General Mr. Angelo Ferrante, Prof. Silvana Bartoletto from the Parthenope University of Naples, and Senior Researcher at the Université libre de Bruxelles Dr. Renato Benintendi.
The need for a green transition to reach the objectives of the 2030 agenda was recognized. Not taking action on climate finance would now become more expensive than taking action. The disparities over the reliance on fossil fuel between the North and the South were also
highlighted. Reaching carbon neutrality by 2050 is a challenge but an opportunity to diversify the energy mix in the region. Cooperation is key and strategic for pursuing energy security and so is the need to establish a stable regulatory and market framework to attract long-term investments.
The support of parliamentary diplomacy was acknowledged as decisive to achieve concrete change for the betterment of the region and its peoples.
Day 2 will address issues such as Food insecurity, Inequalities, the digital divide and means to achieve a sustainable tourism sector.
This Forum is the first of its kind for the Euro-Mediterranean and Gulf regions and aims to reconvene regularly to take stocks of progress achieved and to act as an incubator of ideas to overcome the challenges of the immediate future.//