Interparliamentary Action, Major Lever for Shared African-Atlantic Vision - Moroccan FM

Interparliamentary action is a major lever for developing and implementing a shared vision of the Atlantic African space, Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates Nasser Bourita stressed in Rabat on Thursday.

In an address to the meeting of Speakers of Parliaments of Atlantic African States, read on his behalf by Director General of Bilateral Relations and Regional Affairs Fouad Yazough, the minister highlighted parliamentary action as a fundamental tool for promoting an Atlantic African identity and defending, with a single voice, the strategic interests of countries in the region, in order to ultimately turn challenges into opportunities for shared prosperity.

In this respect, the minister explained that parliaments, by virtue of their representative mission, can play a fundamental role in the service of joint parliamentary action, as a proposal force capable of contributing to the implementation and evaluation of the Atlantic African States Process (AASP) in its entirety.

He added that this meeting, held under the theme “Promoting a Parliamentary Network for a Stable, Integrated, and Prosperous Atlantic Africa”, is an opportunity to initiate constructive dialogue and exchange views on the best means to reinforce the security and stability of Africa’s Atlantic seaboard, with a view to transforming it into a region of shared prosperity.

This meeting also takes place in a context of positive momentum generated by the Royal Atlantic Initiative, announced by His Majesty King Mohammed VI in November 2023, which aims to enable access to the Atlantic Ocean for Sahel countries, he recalled.

Although the Atlantic area is rich in resources and significant human and natural potential, Bourita argued, it still faces challenges such as climate change, security threats, lack of infrastructure and low investment.

In this regard, the minister noted that maritime connectivity between African countries along the Atlantic seaboard remains below the level required to promote trade in this important region of the world.

He then called for joint action to strengthen maritime lines capable of intensifying trade flows and achieving efficiency in terms of transport costs, and to adopt a participatory approach aimed at unifying efforts promoting Atlantic countries’ capacities.

Bourita concluded that the Atlantic seaboard, with its rich culture and diverse tributaries, a deeply rooted collective consciousness and a long-standing maritime identity, is also a melting pot where strategic stakes and economic assets come together as encouraging factors for transforming this common space into a strategic and economic hub.

This event aims to foster inter-parliamentary dialogue in Atlantic Africa in support of the Atlantic African States Process, lay the foundations for a parliamentary network dedicated to Atlantic Africa, and encourage structured and sustainable collaboration between member states, as well as promoting parliamentary coordination on issues of common interest.