In the beginning of the Council, the minister of economy and finance gave a presentation on the general guidelines of the Appropriation Bill 2013, HM the King's office said in a statement.

   The minister said that the development of the Appropriation Bill is based on the royal guidelines and on commitments made under the government programme of action, and will be an important step in the process of consolidating democratic, social and economic accomplishments of the country and the completion of the construction of its development model.

     The bill targets three priority objectives touching on the implementation of the needed structural reforms and improving governance, while ensuring the restoration of macroeconomic and financial balances, enhancing the national economy's competitiveness and reducing social sectoral disparities through the continued upgrading of the educational system, ensuring equitable access to education, the fight against illiteracy, poverty and vulnerability, facilitating access to basic health services and housing, strengthening solidarity mechanisms and improving the living conditions of the population, especially in rural and remote areas.

   In the same vein, the resources of the fund to support social cohesion will be strengthened to enable it to finalize universal access to the medical assistance programme (RAMED), broadening the base of beneficiaries of cash assistance programme for poor children school enrolment and direct support to families of people with special needs.

   The financial resources of the rural and mountain areas development fund will be strengthened, as well as those of the Housing Solidarity Fund, whose intervention scope will be extended to include houses in danger of collapse.

    In addition, new mechanisms will be adopted to enhance job-creation.

    Subsequently, the Council of Ministers approved a draft decree supplementing Decree of 6 Muharram 1385 (7 May 1965) on the situation of military attachés, their deputies and other military personnel assigned to them.

    The Council also approved three Arab agreements on the transfer of prisoners, the fight against crimes related to information and communication technology and the fight against transnational organized crime, as well as the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

    It also approved a bilateral agreement on economic cooperation with the Republic of Bulgaria and three agreements on judicial cooperation and extradition with the Republic of Azerbaijan.

   During the Council, and in accordance with Article 49 of the Constitution, upon the proposal of the head of the government and at the initiative of the minister of energy, mines, water and the environment, HM the King appointed Ali Fassi Fihri managing director of the National Electricity and Drinking Water Utility.