31/05/2011 Political Affairs and Democracy
Strasbourg, 31.05.2011 - On the basis of a report presented by Luca Volontè (Italy, EPP/CD), the PACE Political Affairs Committee, meeting in Paris today, voted in favour of granting the Parliament of Morocco partner for democracy status. The PACE will be required to vote on a corresponding draft resolution at its forthcoming plenary session in Strasbourg (20-24 June). The Parliament of Morocco could therefore become the first parliament to be granted this new status, which was introduced in 2010 in order to strengthen institutional co-operation with parliaments of non-member states in neighbouring regions wishing to participate in the political debate on common challenges which transcend European boundaries.
“The reforms initiated in Morocco need new political impetus, to which the country’s parliament should contribute more actively. Granting the status should be seen as an encouragement to the parliament to play a greater role in the reform process,” said Mr Volontè during an exchange of views with representatives of the Parliament of Morocco.
The draft resolution adopted by the Political Affairs Committee today sets out a list of priority areas in which progress is expected, in particular in terms of holding free and fair elections, abolishing the death penalty from the Penal Code, involving civil society in legislative and other decision-making processes, implementing justice reform and ensuring equal opportunities for women and men. The Parliament of Morocco is also asked to encourage accession to the relevant Council of Europe conventions and to make full use of the Council’s expertise. In two years’ time at the latest, the PACE will have to review the progress of the reforms which are the prime aim of the partnership and are therefore the benchmark for assessing its efficiency.