In a new video interview, Morocco presents its priorities for its Chairmanship of the Rabat Process. Morocco holds the Chairmanship for a period of one year and started its mandate at the 6th Ministerial Conference of the Rabat Process last December, taking over from Spain. A founding member of the Dialogue, Morocco had already assumed the Chairmanship once before, in 2015.

In the interview, Fouad Kadmiri, Director of Consular and Social Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Residing Abroad, presents the priorities and challenges of the Moroccan Chairmanship.

"As a founding member of the Rabat Process, the Kingdom of Morocco remains deeply convinced that migration can be a vector of co-development, opening up opportunities for socio-economic development." - Fouad Kadmiri, Director of Consular and Social Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Residing Abroad

 

Priorities of the Moroccan Chairmanship 2023

Morocco is pleased to be the first Chairmanship in charge of boosting the implementation of the Cadiz Action Plan for the period 2023-2027, which was adopted last December and which is in continuity with the previous Marrakesh Action Plan. During its term of office, the Chairmanship will ensure that the Dialogue continues in a spirit of consensus and consultation with all partner countries.
Morocco wishes to deepen cooperation between the partner countries of the Process and to reaffirm its commitment to the advancement of the by further promoting its ownership and momentum. In this spirit, Morocco places its action under the slogan "Let us act together for regional partnerships in the spirit of solidarity and for a comprehensive migration governance".

More specifically, the Moroccan Chairmanship aims to

  • Encourage mobility and regular migration as a vector of co-development and an effective means to counteract irregular migration;
  • Promote the principles of shared responsibility and solidarity within regional partnerships for a global governance of migration;
  • Support the leveraging of diasporas’ contribution to the development of host countries and their contribution to the socio-economic development of countries of origin;
  • Promote economic inclusion to mitigate the impacts of climate change and foster return and reintegration.

"After more than 15 years of existence, the Dialogue has consolidated its role by offering a platform for exchange on all migration issues, thus contributing to confidence building between partner countries."

The latest meeting calendar of the Rabat Process under the Moroccan Chairmanship can be consulted here:
Calendar

Role of the Chairmanship

The role of Chairmanship of the Rabat Process was introduced in 2014. The Chairmanship of the Rabat Process is a driving force, shaping the dialogue:

  • Alternating between Africa and Europe, each member of the Steering Committee can hold the Chairmanship for a period of one year. 
  • The role of the Chairmanship is to give impetus to the Dialogue, moderate the political meetings and help find consensus between divergent positions. It plays an essential role in preparing agendas, preparatory documents and recommendations for the meetings. It is supported by the Rabat Process Secretariat.
  • The Chairmanship chooses to focus in particular on political and operational priorities that it shares with the member countries in order to ensure the successful implementation of the strategic framework of the Rabat Process and the Valletta framework.
  • The Chairmanship represents the Rabat Process in international fora and other external meetings. The Dialogue Chairmanship is based on a tripartite / troika model including the outgoing, current and incoming chairmanship.