The General Assembly of the Union of Arab Economic and Social Councils and Similar Institutions officially convened on Thursday, November 14, 2024, in Amman, the capital of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. The opening ceremony was presided over by Jordan's Minister of State for Economic Affairs, in the presence of Arab ambassadors to the Kingdom.
The session was chaired by Ms. Rabia Kharfi in her capacity as President of the Union for the 2022–2025 term and as President of the National Economic, Social and Environmental Council of Algeria. The high-level meeting brought together member states, including the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the State of Palestine, the Republic of Sudan, the Kingdom of Morocco, Mauritania, Lebanon, the Arab Republic of Egypt and the State of Yemen. A representative of the Director-General of the Arab Labor Organization, the Union’s permanent patron, was also present.
The General Assembly reviewed its agenda and unanimously adopted the following resolutions:
- Unanimous approval of the Union's official activity report.
- The organization of workshops dedicated to knowledge exchange and consultation on pressing contemporary challenges, specifically water, energy and food security.
- The review, discussion and approval of the Union's action plan for 2025.
- The unanimous extension of the Algerian presidency until the end of 2025, granted following a formal request by all member states. The term, originally scheduled to conclude in June 2025, was extended to ensure the successful completion of the remaining strategic roadmap.
- The formulation of a joint work program with the Arab Labor Organization aimed at strengthening the capabilities of Union members, alongside organizing a specialized seminar on social dialogue.
- The comprehensive revision of the Union's internal bylaws and regulations.
Major Recommendations and Outcomes
- Commendation of the Algerian Council: Delegates highly praised the Algerian Council's pivotal role in reactivating the Union’s activities. They congratulated the current leadership on landmark milestones achieved during this tenure, most notably the project to establish a permanent Union headquarters in Algiers, and the launch of the official website, which provides members a dedicated platform to publish their research and activities.
- In this regard, member states renewed their shared commitment to elevating the Union's performance to better serve the aspirations of Arab societies, reflect the political will of their respective governments, and drive regional prosperity and sustainable development.
- The Assembly called for the activation of a balanced partnership framework with the Union of Euro-Mediterranean Economic and Social Councils. This includes actively contributing to shaping the agenda of the annual Euro-Med meeting well in advance. To facilitate this, member states agreed to hold a virtual coordination meeting prior to the event.
Note: The meeting received extensive coverage across major Jordanian media networks.