The reaction to the Covid-19 outbreak and recovery following the global health catastrophe are being discussed at the second ministerial summit of the African Union (AU) – the European Union (EU), whose preparatory work began today with Morocco’s participation.

High-level officials from the African Union and the European Union’s Ministries of Foreign Affairs called for a strong and united partnership to confront the difficulties posed by the corona virus pandemic during their preliminary meeting.

Monique Nsanzabaganwa, Vice-Chairperson of the African Union Commission and head of the African Union Commission delegation, spoke about the chaos produced by the Covid-19 pandemic and the necessity for a strong Afro-European relationship to face common concerns in a speech.

“The world as we know it has altered quickly, with far-reaching ramifications that we are still trying to identify,” Nsanzabaganwa said, urging for increased cooperation between the African Union and the European Union to speed up the continent’s post-Covid growth.

“Africa needs all the essential support from its closest partners and allies to recover and rebuild itself better,” she said, referring to the epidemic’s catastrophic impacts.

According to Rita Laranjinha, Director-General of the European External Action Service, Europe and Africa must collaborate more closely on a variety of topics in order for both continents to have a brighter future.

“Africa and Europe share a common obligation to improve the global agenda,” she added, noting that the second AU-EU ministerial meeting was an essential step toward the sixth EU-AU summit, which will take place in Brussels in early 2022.

Ministers from Europe and Africa, according to Ms. Laranjinha, must identify the most essential priorities, perspectives, and common concerns to include on the agenda.

Participants at the second AU-EU ministerial conference will look at methods to build resilience and increase investments in digital and ecological transformation, in addition to the theme of the COVID-19 response. The second African Union-European Union ministerial conference, which will end in a joint declaration, will bring together around 500 participants, including more than 60 foreign ministers from the African Union and the European Union.

Morocco was represented at this preparatory meeting by a delegation that included Omar Amghar, Director of the European Union and Mediterranean Series, Radwan Dghoughi, Chief of the Regional Partnerships Section of the Greater Morocco Directorate and the African Maghreb Union Affairs, Mohamed El Atlassi, and the Political Adviser of the Permanent Mission of the Kingdom in Addis Ababa, Yassine Ghouane.

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The National Agency for the Legalization of Activities Related to Cannabis has been added to the list of critical public institutions whose appointments to the Ministerial Council are being discussed during the ministerial meeting headed by King Mohammed VI; today Sunday.

A ministerial council was devoted to considering the basic directions of the draft financial law for the year 2022, approving a draft organizational law, and a number of foreign agreements, in addition to nominations to key positions, in a statement to the royal palace.

The meeting included: Always in accordance with the communication; Approval of a model organic legislation to amend and supplement the organic law relating to senior position appointments.

This project aims to:

• Adding the following institutions to the list of important public institutions whose representatives are being considered for appointment to the Ministerial Council:

National Agency for the Legalization of Cannabis-related Activities;

The National Agency for the Strategic Management of State Contributions, which oversees the effectiveness of government agencies and businesses;

National Agency for Water and Forests.

• “Energy Investments Company” will be renamed “Energy Engineering Company.”

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The Ministerial Council approved a draft organizational law to amend and complete organizational law relating to appointing in senior positions, in implementation of the provisions of articles 49 and 92 of the constitution.

It aims to include “Mohamed VI Investment Fund” in the list of strategic public enterprises whose officials are appointed by the Council of Ministers.

The project also aims to change the designation of some public institutions and enterprises, to make them compatible with the legal texts regulating them as have been amended.

This concerns Hassan II Foundation for Social Work for the benefit of enforcement officers and employees at the Ministry of the Interior, Casablanca Finance City Authority, in addition to the Superior Council for Equipment, Transport, Logistics and Water.

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On Thursday February 11th, at the Royal Palace in Fez, His Majesty King Mohammed VI presided over a ministerial council, devoted to approving a number of draft legal texts and a set of international agreements.

At the beginning of Council, His Majesty the King asked the Minister of Interior, about the tragic accident that occurred recently in a textile factory in Tangier, and the measures that have been taken to avoid recurrence of such accidents.

The Minister answered saying that, in parallel with the ongoing investigations, an initial conceptualization was conceived in this regard. His Majesty renewed his high directives to the government on the necessity of collaboration between the various sectors concerned, as well as taking all necessary legal, organizational and administrative measures at the national level, to avoid the recurrence of such painful accidents in the future.

His Majesty also asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Rural Development, Water and Forests, about the agricultural situation, especially after the rainfalls that our country has witnessed recently. In his answer, the Minister stated that, according to expectations, this year is characterized by significant falls that exceed the average 50% compared to the previous year, 80 % of crops are in good condition, and that the agricultural year promises good results.

Consequently, His Majesty directed a question to the Minister of Health regarding the general conditions under which the national anti-Covid-19 vaccination campaign is going through. The minister replied that the operation is held under the best conditions and that citizens are acting accordingly. In this respect, His Majesty renewed his high directives to maintain the campaign with the same pace and same sense of responsibility.

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