Marrakech Parliamentary Forum Calls for Legislative Measures to Ease Trade, Tariff Tensions
Participants at the 3rd Marrakech Parliamentary Economic Forum for the Euro-Mediterranean and Gulf regions called on Saturday for legislative measures to ease trade and tariff tensions.
At the close of the forum, participants expressed their gratitude to His Majesty King Mohammed VI for making this important event possible, praising the Sovereign's unwavering commitment to issues relating to the Euro-Mediterranean and Gulf regions.
In their recommendations at the close of the Forum (May 23-24), initiated by the House of Councillors and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM), they stressed the importance of promoting stable, rules-based multilateral trade agreements, in line with the principles of the World Trade Organization (WTO).
In this respect, they called for a comprehensive reform of the international financial system, with greater inclusion of Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) in favor of emerging economies.
The participants also recommended that member states ensure women's equal access to economic sphere, and prepare an updated report for the next session of the Women Parliamentary Forum.
On another note, participants stressed the importance of encouraging investment in renewable and sustainable energies, including research of energy storage, and the integration of nuclear energy as part of a diversified energy mix, with the organization of a meeting on the topic.
To this end, they have requested the Association of Mediterranean Energy Regulators (MEDREG) and the Association of Mediterranean Transmission System Operators (MED-TSO) to cooperate with the PAM, fully involving the parliamentary dimension via its Parliamentary Energy Community.
In turn, they called upon parliamentarians to integrate climate transition strategies into energy and agricultural policies, particularly in sectors linked to irrigation, storage and food processing.
In its recommendations, the Forum places particular emphasis on raising awareness about the innovative use of natural resources, notably carbon reserves, calling for a dedicated report.
Support for the creation of an international treaty on artificial intelligence, inspired by the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and the OECD Principles on AI, was also one of the main recommendations of this 3rd edition, with a focus on global governance and impacts on the labor market. A meeting on this topic will be organized.
In its recommendations, the Forum also called for the adoption of legislation favoring the reduction of the digital divide by improving access to digital infrastructures, particularly in disadvantaged areas, in order to ensure equitable economic development.
Participants then urged parliaments to follow the example of some member states that have taken decisive steps to regulate the use of per- and polyfluoroalkylated substances (PFAS), which are harmful to human health and food security.
Placed under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, this Forum, initiated under the theme "Unprecedented Economic, Trade and Energy Challenges - Response of Regional Parliaments and the Private Sector," is an advanced institutional platform for dialogue and cooperation between parliamentarians and PAM's institutional partners.
MAP: 24 mai 2025
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