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General Secretariat

The General Secretariat coordinates institutional follow-up, sector programmes and the Union’s permanent representation.

Presentation of departments

Directorate of Political Affairs, Information and the Cabinet

Follows political dialogue, institutional meetings, coordination among Member States and official Union communication.

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1 — Areas of responsibility

The Directorate of Political Affairs deals with matters related to the following sectors:

  • Counter-terrorism, organised crime and cybercrime.
  • Combating illicit drug trafficking.
  • Combating irregular migration.
  • Cooperation in civil protection.

2 — Missions

The Directorate of Political Affairs, Information and the Cabinet performs missions designed to support political and security coordination among Member States:

  • Coordinate with sector directorates the preparation of files for sessions of the Council of Foreign Ministers and the Follow-up Committee.
  • Prepare Directorate and Cabinet memoranda for the files submitted to those bodies.
  • Prepare, with sector directorates, the Secretary-General’s draft reports on Maghreb integration.
  • Prepare draft opening statements by the Secretary-General for the Council of Foreign Ministers and Follow-up Committee.
  • Prepare files for senior-official committees, including the committee responsible for reforming the Union system.
  • Prepare files for the Council of Interior Ministers, the security follow-up mechanism and their four working groups.
  • Prepare the Secretary-General’s draft opening statement for the Council of Interior Ministers.
  • Follow and promote cooperation with international and regional organisations and regional groupings.
  • Follow cooperation with the European Union and Maghreb–United States cooperation.
  • Cooperate with the UN Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED).
  • Cooperate with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
  • Follow consultations with the League of Arab States, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and the Gulf Cooperation Council.
  • Monitor and analyse political and security conditions at Maghreb, African and international levels.
  • Prepare analytical and technical studies and memoranda on priority issues.
  • Contribute to implementing agreements and following political and security commitments.
  • Follow regional conflicts and crises that may affect Maghreb stability.
  • Build Member States’ capacities through training programmes and exchanges of expertise.
  • Manage and regularly update the institutional website with the other directorates.
  • Publish statements and information on General Secretariat activities.
  • Maintain relations with the media and provide them with statements and press information.

3 — Specialised ministerial councils

  • Council of Foreign Ministers and Follow-up Committee
  • Council of Interior Ministers
  • Working groups on irregular migration, drugs, terrorism and crime, and civil protection
Councils, committees and working groups
Council of Interior Ministers Show related bodies

A framework for coordinating Member States’ responses to cross-border security challenges.

  • Working group on combating irregular migration and the criminal networks that exploit it.
  • Working group on combating illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
  • Working group on counter-terrorism, organised crime and cybercrime.
  • Working group on civil protection, early warning and disaster response.
Working Group on Irregular Migration Show related bodies

A dialogue and experience-sharing platform addressing a priority issue with security, social and economic consequences for Member States.

  • Strengthen regional cooperation and coordination.
  • Act against criminal networks that exploit migrants.
  • Contribute to addressing the root causes of irregular migration.
Working Group on Illicit Drug Trafficking Show related bodies

A cooperation mechanism addressing the threats posed by narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances to public security and health.

  • Facilitate intelligence exchange among Member States.
  • Strengthen security services’ capacity to confront criminal networks.
  • Support coordination with relevant regional and international organisations.
Working Group on Terrorism, Organised Crime and Cybercrime Show related bodies

A specialised framework for unifying efforts against cross-border terrorist and criminal phenomena.

  • Strengthen security and judicial coordination.
  • Exchange information on extremist groups and terrorist-financing patterns.
  • Monitor criminal networks’ use of modern technologies.
Working Group on Civil Protection Show related bodies

A cooperation framework designed to improve joint preparedness for natural disasters and humanitarian crises.

  • Strengthen rapid emergency response.
  • Develop early-warning systems.
  • Harmonise training programmes for rescue and relief teams.
Working-group meeting record (2015–2016) Show related bodies

Sessions listed in the institutional document supplied for the website.

  • Irregular migration: four sessions in Rabat on 16–17 April 2015, 16–17 November 2015, 5–6 April 2016 and 27–28 October 2016.
  • Illicit drug trafficking: two sessions in Algiers on 10–11 June 2015 and 4–5 October 2016.
  • Terrorism and organised crime: sessions in Tunis on 8–9 June 2015 and 7–8 November 2016, and in Rabat on 27–28 January 2016.
  • Civil protection: three sessions in Nouakchott on 23–24 April 2015, 11–12 April 2016 and 13–14 December 2016.

Directorate of Infrastructure

Follows infrastructure, transport, energy, planning and regional structuring projects.

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1 — Areas of responsibility

The Infrastructure Directorate covers the following sectors:

  • Public infrastructure and public works.
  • Housing and urban development.
  • Land, maritime and air transport.
  • Postal services and information and communication technologies.
  • Water and irrigation.

2 — Missions

  • Follow Union decisions and recommendations in the infrastructure field.
  • Provide secretariat support to the ministerial committee, sector councils and their working groups.
  • Produce periodic reports on progress achieved.
  • Collect minutes, studies and other documents issued by Union bodies.
  • Consolidate the specialised committee’s work for submission to the Follow-up Committee and Council of Foreign Ministers.
  • Contribute to Union programme implementation plans and follow specialist conferences and meetings.
  • Coordinate the relevant Union bodies, administrations, services and professional organisations.
  • Develop relations with regional and international organisations and seek external funding.

3 — Specialised ministerial councils

  • Specialised Ministerial Committee for Infrastructure
  • Ministerial councils for public infrastructure and works, transport, postal services and information technologies, housing and urban development, and water and irrigation
Councils, committees and working groups
Organisation chart of related bodies
Specialised Ministerial Committee for Infrastructure
Council for Public Infrastructure and Works
  • Permanent Committee for Roads and Motorways.
  • Permanent Committee for Specifications, Standards and Implementation Instruments.
  • Committee of Contractors, Engineering Consultancies and Professional Associations.
Council for Transport
  • Maghreb Land Transport Committee.
  • Maghreb Maritime Committee.
  • Maghreb Committee for Air Transport, Civil Aviation and Airports.
  • Maghreb Meteorology Committee.
  • Maghreb Committee for Cooperation in Logistics Services.
Council for Postal Services and Information Technologies
  • Postal Services Committee.
  • Information and Communication Technologies Committee.
Council for Housing and Urban Development
  • Housing Committee.
  • Urban Development Committee.
Council for Water and Irrigation
  • Permanent Committee for the Assessment and Mobilisation of Water Resources.
  • Permanent Committee for the Control and Preservation of Water Resources.

4 — Internal structure

  1. Infrastructure directorate leadership
  2. Head of division
  3. Infrastructure expert
  4. Administrative secretariat

Directorate of Economic Affairs

Follows economic, trade and financial matters as well as regional integration programmes.

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1 — Areas of responsibility

  • Maghreb economic cooperation and regional economic integration.
  • Coordination of economic and financial policies.
  • Cooperation with funding and supporting partners.
  • Preparation of files and documents required for decision-making.

2 — Missions

  • Prepare files for the Ministerial Committee for Economy and Finance.
  • Prepare files for the five councils covering trade, finance and monetary affairs, tourism and handicrafts, industry, and energy and mines.
  • Prepare technical meetings held at the headquarters of the General Secretariat.
  • Contribute to the minutes of expert and ministerial meetings.
  • Produce periodic monitoring and evaluation reports.
  • Prepare draft economic and financial cooperation agreements with regional and international organisations.
  • Seek external funding for conferences, studies and activities within the directorate’s remit.
  • Collect and analyse data and statistics and monitor economic developments nationally, regionally and internationally.

3 — Specialised ministerial councils

  • Ministerial Committee for Economy and Finance
  • Ministerial councils for monetary and financial affairs, trade, tourism and handicrafts, industry, and energy and mines
Councils, committees and working groups
Organisation chart of related bodies
Ministerial Committee for Economy and Finance
Council for Finance and Monetary Affairs
  • Working group for the establishment of the Maghreb Bank for Investment and Foreign Trade.
  • Working group on coordinating tax systems.
  • Maghreb Insurance and Reinsurance Committee.
  • Working group on statistics.
Council for Trade
  • Working group on the free-trade area project.
  • Working group on a unified customs nomenclature.
  • Working group on the future of trade cooperation and coordination of trade and customs policies and procedures.
Council for Energy and Mines
  • Electricity Committee.
  • Petroleum Industries Committee.
  • General Planning and Energy Management Committee.
  • Mines and Geology Committee.
  • Oil and Gas Resources Committee.
  • Renewable Energy Committee.
Council for Industry
  • Maghreb Higher Council for Iron and Steel.
  • Maghreb Union for Mechanical Industries and Components.
  • Maghreb Union for Textile and Leather Industries.
  • Maghreb Union for Building Materials.
  • Maghreb Committee for Soaps and Detergents.
  • Maghreb working group on standards and industrial property.
  • Working group on electronics, electrical engineering and household-appliance industries.
Council for Tourism and Handicrafts
  • Working group on vocational and tourism training.
  • Working group on the tourism publication.
  • Working group on training and employment.

4 — Internal structure

  1. Director: overall planning and alignment of activities with Maghreb economic and financial policies; she also serves as the General Secretariat’s Permanent Representative to the African Union.
  2. Head of division: supervision of daily activities, coordination of work and organisation of technical meetings.
  3. Expert: technical and economic analysis for recommendations and projects, and monitoring of economic developments.
  4. Secretariat: organisation of files and documents, preparation of agendas, and coordination of committees and meetings.

Directorate of Human Development

Covers education, culture, employment, social affairs, youth and health.

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1 — Areas of responsibility

The Human Development Directorate covers the remit of the specialised ministerial committee of the same name, one of the four major committees established by the Presidential Council at its first session in Tunis on 21–22 January 1990. At its first session on 15 February 1990, the committee established eight sector ministerial councils.

  • Education, higher education and scientific research.
  • Culture and media.
  • Vocational training, employment and social affairs.
  • Youth, sport and health.
  • Justice and legal affairs.
  • Residence and movement of persons and matters concerning the Maghreb community.
  • Religious affairs.

2 — Missions

  • Prepare documents and reports required for joint Maghreb action on human development.
  • Coordinate the files of the committee, ministerial councils, technical committees and working groups.
  • Process sector correspondence and prepare letters, memoranda and reports for the relevant bodies.
  • Prepare meetings of the committee, sector councils, technical committees and working groups.
  • Follow implementation of decisions and recommendations issued by Union institutions and bodies.
  • Manage cooperation with relevant regional and international organisations.

3 — Specialised ministerial councils

  • Council for Education, Higher Education and Scientific Research
  • Councils for Culture, Youth and Sport, and Health
  • Councils for Judicial and Legal Affairs, Employment, Training and Social Affairs, together with bodies dealing with the Maghreb community abroad and religious affairs
Councils, committees and working groups
Council for Education, Higher Education and Scientific Research Show related bodies

Alignment of curricula, recognition of qualifications and cooperation among institutions.

  • Technical committee on aligning basic-education curricula in arts and physical education.
  • Technical committee on aligning basic-education curricula in social studies.
  • Technical committee on aligning curricula in Arabic and Islamic education.
  • Technical committee on aligning foreign-language curricula.
  • Technical committee on aligning science and mathematics curricula.
  • Committee on the recognition of qualifications and alignment of university study frameworks.
  • Expert committee on the Maghreb University and Maghreb Academy of Sciences.
  • Working group on a joint mechanism for printing school textbooks.
  • Working group on a mechanism for twinning educational institutions.
  • Maghreb working group on educational coordination.
  • Working group studying the creation of a Maghreb centre for educational studies.
  • Working group on establishing the electronic portal for Maghreb universities.
  • Working group on a comprehensive approach to entrepreneurship education.
  • Working group on cooperation with relevant States, institutions and regional and international organisations.
Council for Culture Show related bodies

Development of Maghreb cultural cooperation and coordination of joint programmes.

  • Expert group on updating cultural agreements.
  • Expert group on studying and evaluating cultural-institution projects.
  • Expert group on coordinating and monitoring joint Maghreb cultural programmes.
Council for Youth and Sport Show related bodies

Sustained cooperation for young people and athletes across Member States.

  • Technical committee studying a Maghreb fund to support youth and sports activities.
  • Working group on establishing a Maghreb youth portal.
Council for Health Show related bodies

Coordination of health policies and services across the Maghreb.

  • Technical committee monitoring Council decisions and recommendations.
  • Health Human Resources Committee.
  • Health Policies, Systems and Quality Committee.
  • Health, Environment and Health Programmes Committee.
Council for Judicial and Legal Affairs Show related bodies

Alignment of legislation, judicial cooperation and exchange of expertise.

  • Working group on a model law for civil procedure.
  • Working group on a model law for criminal procedure.
Council for Employment, Training, Social Affairs and the Maghreb Community Show related bodies

Coordination of employment, vocational training, social protection and matters concerning the Maghreb community abroad.

  • Working group on social development.
  • Working group on revising the social-security convention.
  • Working group on harmonising labour legislation.
  • Maghreb group for coordination, monitoring and information on the Maghreb community abroad.
  • Specialist group on employment and vocational-training information systems.

4 — Internal structure

  1. Directorate leadership
  2. Heads of division
  3. Experts
  4. Administrative and support staff
  5. Contract experts

Directorate of Food Security

Coordinates files related to food security, agricultural resources and regional rural development initiatives.

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1 — Areas of responsibility

The Food Security Directorate deals with matters related to the following sectors:

  • Agriculture and livestock.
  • Water.
  • Forests.
  • Agricultural and food industries.
  • Land development.
  • Marine fisheries.
  • Veterinary medicine.
  • Agricultural research, training and extension.
  • Environmental protection and sustainable development.
  • Climate change.
  • Biological diversity.
  • Combating desertification.

2 — Missions

  • Follow implementation of Presidential Council decisions relating to food security.
  • Provide secretariat support to the ministerial committee, sector councils and their working groups.
  • Follow recommendations issued by the ministerial committee.
  • Organise and monitor Maghreb, regional and international conferences and meetings on food security and environmental protection.
  • Develop relations with relevant international organisations and seek funding for approved projects and studies.
  • Follow non-governmental Maghreb professional organisations and encourage their initiatives.

3 — Specialised ministerial councils

  • Specialised Ministerial Committee for Food Security
  • Maghreb Ministerial Council for the Environment
  • Committees, professional bodies and working groups covering agriculture, water, fisheries, animal health, climate, biodiversity and desertification
Councils, committees and working groups
Organisation chart of related bodies
Specialised Ministerial Committee for Food Security
Food-security bodies, committee and working groups
  • Professional body for agricultural research, training and extension.
  • Professional body for cereals and pulses.
  • Permanent Maghreb Veterinary Committee.
  • Working groups on rational agricultural water use, fisheries resources and marine fishing, agricultural quarantine and plant protection, and agricultural policies and trade.
Maghreb Ministerial Council for the Environment
  • Permanent committee on combating desertification and environmental protection for sustainable development.
  • Working group on climate change, pollution control and the green economy.
  • Working group on biodiversity and the protection and enhancement of natural heritage.
  • Working group on sound environmental governance for sustainable development.

4 — Internal structure

  1. Directorate leadership
  2. Head of division
  3. Expert
  4. Administrative staff
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