France/Morocco: Virtual Seminar Looks into Development of Intercommunality

08 avril 2021 Printable Version

Paris - The General Directorate of Local Authorities of the Ministry of Interior and the Delegation for External Action of Local Government of the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, held on Thursday, a virtual seminar under the theme "Intercommunality: exchange of experiences through decentralized cooperation.

The webinar, held within the framework of the joint support mechanism for French-Moroccan decentralized cooperation, looked into the prospects of decentralized cooperation and its contribution to the developing cooperation among communes (Intercommunality), which is an ambitious and complex mode of governance in constant evolution in France as in Morocco.

It also focused on improving mutual knowledge in a field that has experienced a strong evolution in recent years in both countries, bolstering the development of Intercommunality in Morocco, through decentralized cooperation projects and promoting past projects as a source of inspiration and good practices for other partnerships.

Opening this meeting, organized in partnership with Cités Unies France, the French Embassy in Morocco, the Moroccan Association of Presidents of Communal Councils and the Moroccan Association of Presidents of Prefectural and Provincial Councils, French Ambassador to Morocco Hélène Le Gal said that the event is likely to further consolidate the channels of cooperation and solidarity between Morocco and France, emphasizing the solidarity aspect of Intercommunality.

For his part, Khalid Safir, Wali director general of local authorities at the Moroccan Ministry of the Interior, noted that this event reflects once again the resolve of the two countries to exchange on issues of common interest to the respective local authorities.

If the local authorities are today an "essential link" in Morocco, intercommunality is an alternative to correct the imperfections, mobilize resources, explore new management methods and benefit from economies of scale, he said.

Léonore Moncond'huy, Mayor of Poitiers and Vice-President of Cités Unies France,pleaded for stronger cooperation in the area of intercommunality to better meet the various challenges of local authorities.

Several institutions, local officials, municipal advisors experts and representatives of associations of elected officials and public service management from both countries participated in the event.