July 7, 2026

The African Tribune

Bold, independent reporting on Africa's most important stories, in English, every day.

Morocco joins mediterranean union parliamentary assembly bureau

The Moroccan parliamentary delegation made a significant stride in Euro‑Mediterranean diplomacy during the 10th Summit of Speakers of Parliaments and the 19th plenary session of the Union for the Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly (UPM‑PA). Held over the weekend at the Egyptian Parliament in the country’s new administrative capital, the meetings brought together lawmakers from across the Mediterranean basin.

Led by Abdelmajid Fassi Fihri, Vice‑President of the Moroccan Chamber of Representatives, the delegation secured a key role within the UPM‑PA by being elected to the Bureau. Moreover, Rabat was entrusted with chairing the Assembly’s newly formed Artificial Intelligence Commission—a move widely seen as a vote of confidence in Morocco’s parliamentary diplomacy and its growing influence in regional governance.

Strengthening parliamentary ties across the Mediterranean

During the sessions, Fassi Fihri underscored the vital role of the Union for the Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly as a platform for dialogue and cooperation among legislatures on both sides of the Mediterranean. He highlighted that the Assembly’s thematic priorities—including artificial intelligence, youth engagement, and parliamentary diplomacy for peace and stability in the Middle East—reflect a shared recognition of the deep transformations reshaping the region.

The selection of these themes, he noted, signals a broader understanding of today’s challenges: technological disruption is intertwined with shifts in cultural influence, decision‑making frameworks, and geopolitical alignments. Fassi Fihri emphasized that Morocco, under the visionary leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, is advancing a forward‑looking agenda—one that prioritizes economic modernization, digital transformation, and infrastructure development to position the Kingdom as a reliable partner in Mediterranean, Africa, and global affairs.

Morocco’s strategic vision in action

In addition to its election to the Bureau, Morocco’s participation in the Assembly’s expanded Bureau meeting helped finalize the new leadership structure for 2026–2030, including the appointment of commission presidents. The delegation, including members such as Chaoui Belassal, Meriem Rmili, Houria Didi, Rabab Aïlal, Salwa Demnati, and Ibrahim Aâba, engaged in discussions on pressing regional issues: parliamentary diplomacy, artificial intelligence governance, youth participation in policymaking, and collective efforts to enhance security, stability, and shared development across the Mediterranean.

As the sessions concluded, participants issued a joint call for sustained parliamentary coordination among member states. They reaffirmed the UPM‑PA’s role as a vital platform for dialogue and trust, essential to advancing regional security, stability, sustainable development, and collective prosperity for all Mediterranean peoples.

Moroccan parliamentary delegation at the Mediterranean Union session