Morocco, a “Leading Partner” in Council of Europe’s Neighbourhood Policy, Says Bjørn Berge

Morocco is a “leading partner” in the Council of Europe’s (CoE) neighborhood policy, the organization’s Deputy Secretary General, Bjørn Berge, stressed Thursday in Strasbourg. During the ceremony to present a handcrafted fountain as a Moroccan donation to the CoE, Berge emphasized the significant enhancement of institutional relations between the two parties, with the Parliamentary Assembly, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, and the Committee of Ministers, all thanks to a “solid” Neighborhood Partnership. “I would like to pay special tribute to parliamentary cooperation”, noted the CoE Deputy Secretary General, before a large audience including  Driss El Kaissi, the Moroccan Consul General in Strasbourg, members of the Moroccan Parliamentary Delegation to the CoE Parliamentary Assembly, CoE officials, diplomats, ambassadors, local elected representatives, and representatives of Moroccan community associations in Alsace. Highlighting Morocco’s active contribution to the proceedings of the CoE’s Parliamentary Assembly as a partner for democracy, Berge underscored the significance of the Moroccan donation to the Palais de l’Europe (the Palace of Europe). He stated that the donation symbolizes the enduring ties between the CoE and Morocco, built on mutual respect and the promotion of shared values. The mosaic fountain, a gift from Morocco to the Council of Europe, was intricately crafted by skilled artisans from the city of Fez. This donation establishes Morocco as the only Arab-Muslim and African country to contribute such a gift to this pan-European organization.