“Our commitment to building strong relationships with other European cities and regions is not just a matter of policy, but a necessity to create a sustainable, resilient and inclusive future,” said the Vice-President of the Council. municipal of Rabat, Rahima Ouazzani Taibi, who participated in a debate on “local and regional democracy in the world”.
Highlighting the transformative power of local governance, she underlined the significant role of local governments in developing policies that impact the lives of fellow citizens.
“It is at the local level that we can truly respond to the needs and aspirations of our communities,” she continued, welcoming the holding of this meeting which promotes collaboration, the sharing of best practices and collective work towards common objectives aimed at preserving Man and the Planet.
Rabat is an open and international city, twinned with several cities around the world and maintains partnerships with cities and capitals on five continents, she continued, noting that the capital of the Kingdom occupies leadership positions within of several international organizations and city networks.
“Our cooperation is resolutely oriented towards a strategic partnership, integrating the processes of decentralization, advanced regionalization, integrated local development and participatory democracy,” she said.
“By sharing our experiences and knowledge, we can strengthen our collective capacity to face global challenges and strengthen our resilience in the face of health, climate and ecological crises,” insisted the municipal representative, noting that these challenges call for immediate action. and collective.
Ms. Ouazzani Taibi highlighted on this occasion the multiple attractions of the Moroccan capital, “green city par excellence, city of light, declared a UNESCO world heritage site, first capital of African culture and cultural capital in the Islamic world”.
The city of Rabat, she added, received the UN-Habitat honorary prize in recognition of its exceptional achievements in urban development, the quality of life of residents, access to social services, centers dynamic sports and public spaces redeveloped in harmony with sustainable development objectives.
The Deputy Mayor of Rabat expressed the hope that this session of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities would allow the Moroccan delegation to explore new avenues of collaboration with the Kingdom’s strategic partners, in particular the Council of Europe. , as part of the Common Roadmap on the Neighborhood Partnership between the two parties by 2025.