![Spanish Representatives Oppose Morocco’s Joint Bid with Spain and Portugal Spain’ Prime Minister proposed a trio bid with Morocco and Portugal to host the 2030 World Cup; but the idea does not appear to be popular with Spanish politicians. The representatives of two Spanish political parties, the People’s Party and the Citizens-Party, have said they do not want Spain to submit a joint candidacy with Portugal and Morocco for the 2030 World Cup. In a meeting organized by the National Federation of Sports Facilities Entrepreneurs (FNEID) in Madrid, the People’s party representative, Vicente Azpitarte dismissively spoke about Spain joining a trio with Morocco and Portugal to organize the World Cup. Azpitarte specifically wondered whether Spain would get any advantages from teaming up with the two countries, t Spanish news outlet Iusport reported on Wednesday. The Citizens-Party representative, Roberto Nunez, agreed with Azpitarte. “We do not intend to organize a World Cup with other countries. Spain has more than enough capacity [to organize the World Cup], it is a country that has already organized a World Cup, and we do not understand that proposal,” Nunez said. The adviser of United Podemos, Oscar Penas, stated that he does not clearly see why “the priority is to organize a World Cup or an Olympiad at this time.” Morocco and Spain cooperate on a number of issues, ranging from security and migration to trade and education. On November 18, the Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, arrived in Morocco for a first visit since his election to premiership. During his visit, Sanchez proposed to both Head of Government Saad Eddine El Othmani and King Mohammed VI a joint bid for the 2030 World Cup. “We are launching a joint message, which is that this will be a bid between two continents. The King of Morocco is receptive and we’re going to work on it with Portugal. We are very excited about it,” Sanchez said.](https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/ABL-Launches-in-Casablanca-Becoming-Africa’s-First-Aircraft-Leaser-180x135.jpeg "ABL Launches in Casablanca, Becoming Africa’s First Aircraft Leaser")
By Sana Elouazi
By Sana Elouazi
Rabat – French President Emmanuel Macron paid respect, on Wednesday in Bonn, to Morocco’s commitment to climate action at COP 23 held November 6 to 17.
In a statement to Heads of States and Governments at the COP23 high-level segment, which was marked by the presence of Princess Lalla Hasnaa who represented King Mohammed VI at the talks, Macron payed tribute to Morocco for being a host country to the COP22 and for its steady commitment in fighting climate change at the international level.
The French president said that “the fight against climate change is one of the major struggles of our time.”
He also welcomed the action of the Fijian presidency of COP 23, calling for clear and firm commitments from the international community to enrich scientific debate in order to inform states in decision-making.
Macron urged European countries to honour their commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and compensate for the lack of funding from the United Nations Climate Change Panel (IPCC) after the US’ withdrawal.
“I hope that Europe will replace the United States of America, and I want to tell you that France will be at the rendezvous,” he said.
Recalling scientists’ warnings against environmental degradation, President Macron called for speeding up the effective implementation of the Paris Agreement by inviting the states, the private sector and non-state actors to take action and undertake their responsibilities.
The French president, whose country will be hosting the international climate summit on December 12 in Paris, also stressed the need to help the most vulnerable countries to manage the impact of climate change, calling for putting together energies and fund-raising in order “to be at the rendezvous of the indispensable environmental transition.”
