Brussels – President of the European Parliament, Martin Schulz, paid tribute to HM King Mohammed VI, “who has clearly chosen to listen to Moroccan youth and a vibrant and committed civil society.”
“HM King Mohammed VI has clearly chosen to listen to Moroccan youth and a vibrant and committed civil society. We must honor him,” said Schulz, in an interview with MAP news agency, on the occasion of his visit to Morocco.
“The popular uprisings in the Arab countries have been motivated by the same aspirations especially of the youth to live in dignity and freedom. This educated youth aspires also to participate actively in the political and economic life of their country. However, the answers of authorities have differentiated from the most unspeakable repression to most commendable openness,” said Schulz.
In Morocco, “the proposal of a new constitution was widely supported at the ballot box. The election results confirmed an indisputable democratic and transparent transition process,” said the European official, noting that “the great challenge now is to transpose the new constitutional measures into political, economic, administrative and social life of the country “.
The new government faces several challenges: “unemployment especially of the youth, literacy, the fight against inequality, poverty and corruption,” said Schulz, urging for continuing the path of “bold” reforms.
“Morocco must pursue bold reforms in several areas. Elections and constitutional reform were two important steps towards the democratization of political life, but the road is long and must continue,” noted the President of the European Parliament.
Schulz chooses to make his first trip to a country outside the EU in Morocco, where he is expected Saturday for a two-day official visit.
During his stay in the Kingdom, Schulz will meet Saturday Prime Minister Adbelilah Benkirane, Foreign Minister Saad El Dine Otmani, and Speakers of the House of Representatives, Karim Ghellab, and the House of Advisors, Mohamed Cheikh Biadillah.
EP President, to head a strong delegation of MEPs, should also take part on Sunday in the 8th plenary session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean (PA-UfM), whose general discussion focuses on “The UfM and the major challenges of the Mediterranean.”
A meeting with the Secretary General of the Union for the Mediterranean Fathallah Sijilmassi is also scheduled for Sunday.
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