Italian and Moroccan officials, academics, and community members convened in Verona, Italy, on Saturday to emphasize the significance of Morocco’s autonomy plan for the Sahara region. The meeting highlighted the plan as a vital political framework for fostering regional stability amidst growing security challenges in the Sahel-Saharan environment.
Context of Regional Stability
The discussions centered on the “Autonomy and regionalised governance: Cross perspectives on the Italian experience and the Moroccan perspective” conference. This event underscored the institutional and regional dimensions of Morocco’s proposed autonomy initiative.
Participants noted the persistent security concerns plaguing the Sahel-Saharan region. In this context, Morocco’s 2007 autonomy plan was presented as the “only pragmatic framework” for achieving a lasting political solution and bolstering regional stability.
Moroccan Initiative and International Recognition
The relevance of Morocco’s autonomy plan for the Sahara dispute was a central theme. Italian Senator Luigi Spagnolli, representing the Trentino-Alto Adige region, referenced UN Security Council Resolution 2797, adopted on October 31, 2025. This resolution reportedly recognized the Moroccan autonomy initiative as a foundation for the UN-led political process.
Senator Spagnolli also pointed to the preamble of the Moroccan Constitution, emphasizing the Kingdom’s “plural identity.” He suggested that this diversity of cultural and historical components serves as a unifying factor for the nation.
Parallels with Italian Regional Governance
Italian political scientist Marco Baratto drew parallels between Morocco’s autonomy plan and Italian regional governance models. He argued that autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty offers “a sustainable political perspective.” This perspective, he explained, connects institutional development with investments made in the southern provinces.
Baratto specifically compared the Moroccan plan to the Special Status granted to Sicily in 1946. He presented both as “two models serving national unity and regional stability.”
Unity, Diversity, and Development
Professor of International Relations Yasmine El Hassnaoui further elaborated on this interpretation. She stated that the autonomy plan successfully reconciles “unity and diversity, sovereignty and self-governance.”
Professor El Hassnaoui also highlighted significant investments directed towards the southern provinces. These investments span critical sectors including infrastructure, renewable energy, transportation, and logistics.
Broader Participation and Future Outlook
The Verona meeting included participation from various Italian regional officials, alongside members of the Moroccan community residing in Italy. The convergence of perspectives from different stakeholders underscored the growing international dialogue surrounding the Moroccan autonomy plan.
The discussions in Verona signal a continued international focus on Morocco’s autonomy proposal as a potential pathway to resolving the Sahara dispute and enhancing stability in a complex geopolitical region. The emphasis on development and governance models shared with European experiences suggests a potential for broader adoption or adaptation of such frameworks in addressing regional challenges.
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