GFMD 2017-2018 Co-Chairmanship
Germany and Morocco are co-chairing the Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) from 1 January 2017 until 31 December 2018.
During this two-year period, the GMFD Co-Chair's focus is on the Forum's contribution to the United Nations’ Global Compact on Migration (GCM). The Global Compact is intended to constitute a strong signal of the international community for an enhanced global migration policy, to be adopted by the community of states in December 2018.
The symbolic handover of the chair on Monday, December 12th 2016, during the annual GFMD conference in Dhaka, Bangladesh to State Secretary Markus Ederer and the Moroccan Secretary General El Habib Nadir of the Ministry in Charge of Moroccans Living Abroad and Migration Affairs marked the commencement of the co-chairmanship.
In 2017, the main theme of the GFMD was "Towards a Global Social Contract on Migration and Development," culminating in the Tenth GFMD Summit in Berlin in June 2017. This signals in particular the imperative to address and balance the interests between migrants and their countries of origin, transit states and destinations, within the framework of regular and orderly migration. The second year revolves around the overarching theme, "Honouring International Commitments to Unlock the Potential of All Migrants for Development," as the global community anticipates the adoption of the first ever Global Compact for Migration (GCM).
For the first time since the formation of the GFMD in 2007, two countries are co-chairing the Global Forum, at a time when migration policy topics are high on the political agenda around most of the world. Germany and Morocco, by means of their exemplary cooperation, take the lead in highlighting the positive aspects of migration and the need for orderly, safe and regular migration. The symbolic bridging of the Mediterranean and the close link between Europe and Africa send a strong signal for the further development of global migration objectives.
The GFMD Co-Chairs are represented by Dr. Götz Schmidt-Bremme, Ambassador for the 2017-2018 GFMD Co-Chairmanship and Mr. El Habib Nadir, Secretary General, Ministry Delegate to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in charge of Moroccans Living Abroad and Migration Affairs, respectively.