Background The “Conseil de la Ville de Marrakech” manages the whole territory of Marrakech and represents the main point of reference for the management of technical, financial, economic, social and environmental aspects of the urban community. However, recent studies and research (“Diagnostic de ville”, 2003 and “Débat national sur l’Aménagement du Territoire, 2000” of the Marrakech-Tensift-Al Haouz region) showed that the sectorial approach has negative repercussions for the: environmental service offered, preventive approach, operational institutional instruments and control of the internal activities and of the documentation produced. Therefore, there is a need to combine adequate standards of environmental quality with a socio-economic development of the urban community. Objectives The main objective of the project is to outline an Environmental Management System in compliance with EMAS and adaptable to the administrative structures of the “Conseil de la Ville de Marrakech”. The specific objectives of the project are to: · Inform the personnel of the administrative structure of the urban community about EMAS; · Carry out an initial review of direct and indirect environmental impacts of the activities of the Conseil de Marrakech; · Define a policy and an environmental action programme; · Organise and implement an Environmental Management System in compliance with ISO 14001 standards; · Disseminate environmental performance results to the local population; · Promote the definition of an integrated Action Plan in accordance with the local Agenda 21; and · Reinforce and integrate the environmental questions into all levels of public activities related to the management of the urban community. Results Not applicable while project is ongoing.