Moroccan MPs rejected today proposed amendments put forward by Algerian parliamentarians during the eighth summit of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean, held at the headquarters of the House of Representatives.
The deputies contested the decision to vote on amendments presented by the Algerian delegation due to their absence from the summit held in Rabat on February 15 and 16.
The session, convened by the Committee on Political Affairs and Security, was dedicated to endorsing the recommendations project concerning common challenges in the Mediterranean region.
The session focused on energy, food security, peace, and stability cooperation.
Moroccan MPs raised these objections during the voting session on the amendments submitted by various parliaments of the Union for the Mediterranean, totaling over 46 amendments.
Representing the opposition Socialist Union, parliamentary deputy Salwa Demnati, alongside other MPs, said that it’s important to adhere to procedural guidelines in voting on proposals related to Mediterranean challenges and cooperation.
In response to the Moroccan objections, Portuguese deputy Isabel Santos, chairing the session and a member of the European Parliament, said that it’s a customary practice within the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean to vote on proposed amendments, irrespective of the submitting parliaments’ attendance.
The Portuguese deputy further added that attendance is optional for adopting votes on amendments according to the assembly’s fundamental system.
Moroccan MPs requested a consultation break from the session chair regarding the Algerian amendment proposal.
After a 15-minute pause, the session resumed, leading to the presentation of the matter to the voting procedure. Moroccan MPs successfully rejected voting on the proposed Algerian amendments.
Moroccan objections were not solely related to attendance procedures but were primarily linked to the content of Algerian amendments, notably amendment number 46, which reportedly undermined Morocco’s territorial integrity.
Algerian parliamentarians submitted nine amendments focusing on “rejecting forced annexation and urging international support for legitimacy and law in conflict zones worldwide.”
The Moroccan parliamentary delegation criticized the “empty chair policy” adopted by Algeria through boycotting various events hosted by Morocco.
Moroccan MPs that Algeria’s absence shows that this country does not prioritize such summits or other forums discussing challenges facing Mediterranean countries.
On a different note, Hespress sources revealed that the Algerian consular representation in Morocco is unlikely to attend the 34th anniversary of the founding of the Arab Maghreb Union, which the Abdessalam Ben Mchich Association for Development and Solidarity intends to organize in Tangier on February 17.
Despite receiving an official invitation about a month ago to participate in the forum’s upcoming events, the Algerian consular office has yet to provide a definitive response.
This hesitation is attributed to strained relations between Algeria and Rabat. However, there remains a possibility that Algerian civil society organizations, including residents in Morocco, might still participate in honoring the anniversary of the Abdessalam Ben Mchich Association for Development and Solidarity.
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