The meaning of territories – Today Morocco

The experience of advanced regionalization will be in the spotlight for two days in Tangier where the second edition of the National Conference dedicated to the subject will be held.

Taking stock of regionalization inevitably involves two other closely linked questions: decentralization and deconcentration, which are not corollaries or consequences of regionalization, but constitute its very essence and practical content. Without them, the notion of Region would have no meaning and Morocco has already experienced this in the past. Today, things have visibly evolved and the desire to act is evident.

The process is well underway for the real transfer of decision-making powers from the central State to the regions as entities, decentralization, and geographically from Rabat to the territories, deconcentration. Another important project will follow to complete the building, namely the adaptation of the administrative architecture to the specificities of the regions.

And there too, the first founding texts are already decreed and in force, in particular those concerning regional health groups. The operation and governance of basic public services such as the distribution of electricity and drinking water, waste collection and sanitation services are also reconfigured into regional companies. The notion of regional civil service already exists. We will now have to complete the puzzle with the rest of the entities which will have to deploy fully and quickly in the territories to give them their full institutional meaning.