Strengthening Parliamentary Ties Between Morocco and South America
On April 6, 2026, Morocco's Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abdel Majid Fassi Fihri, hosted a significant meeting at the council's headquarters with Rodrigo Gamara, the President of the Parliament of the South American Common Market (Parlasur), along with his accompanying delegation. This meeting is viewed as a pivotal step towards establishing a more dynamic and effective parliamentary partnership that serves the interests of the people and enhances the values of cooperation and solidarity among southern nations.
During the meeting, Fassi Fihri emphasized Morocco's commitment to parliamentary diplomacy as a crucial mechanism for promoting dialogue among nations. He highlighted the importance of fostering communication and exchange between the Moroccan Parliament and the Mercosur Parliament through mutual visits and the establishment of regular dialogue mechanisms. He advocated for encouraging the sharing of legislative experiences, particularly in areas of mutual interest such as sustainable development, social justice, and digital transformation, while also coordinating positions within international parliamentary forums on shared issues.
Fassi Fihri pointed out that despite the existing relations between Morocco and Mercosur countries, there remains significant potential for economic integration and South-South cooperation within this regional bloc, which primarily aims to enhance trade exchange and economic integration among its member states. He suggested that parliamentary diplomacy could play a pivotal role in bridging perspectives, encouraging economic initiatives, and supporting the establishment of strategic partnerships between Morocco and Mercosur countries. Leveraging Morocco's strategic location, he proposed that it could serve as a platform for collaboration with the African continent, thus opening up promising avenues for trilateral partnerships between Africa and South America.
In response, Rodrigo Gamara, the President of Parlasur, noted that the purpose of his visit was specifically to accelerate the pace of commercial cooperation between this bloc and Morocco, which he described as a gateway to Africa and the Arab world for South America.
Accompanying Gamara during this meeting were Fabiana Martin, a member of Parlasur and head of the Argentine delegation; Arturo Silvera, Secretary of the Presidency of Parlasur; Gerardo Farina, Director General of Parliamentary Affairs at Parlasur; and Gustavo Cuivas, Director of the Democracy Observatory at Parlasur.
It is important to note that the Parlasur was established in 2006 as a significant step towards supporting the integration institutions within the South American Common Market, which includes Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay. The Parliament is headquartered in Montevideo, Uruguay, and consists of representatives elected for four-year terms, renewable upon completion. It is organized into ten permanent committees and includes a Democracy Observatory, meeting at least once a month.
Two memorandums of understanding were signed between the Moroccan Parliament and the Mercosur Parliament in 2019 and 2022, marking a commitment to deepen collaboration.
As reported by maroc24.com.
