Historic launch of Morocco–Council of Europe partnership renewal
The Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Abroad hosted a formal launch ceremony in Rabat on Tuesday for the fifth phase of the Morocco–Council of Europe Neighborhood Partnership (2026–2029).
The event brought together key stakeholders from relevant ministries and institutions, representatives from the Council of Europe Office in Rabat, and ambassadors from European Union member states accredited to Morocco.
Strategic discussions on progress and future implementation
The proceedings featured two expert panels: the first examined past achievements and future prospects of the renewed partnership, while the second explored concrete strategies for sustainable project execution within this framework.
Morocco’s commitment to democratic governance and human rights
Under the reign of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Morocco has embarked on an ambitious reform agenda to strengthen democracy, enhance human rights protections, and reinforce the rule of law. This vision—grounded in constitutional commitments—has driven significant institutional progress.
Key milestones include the consolidation of democratic institutions enshrined in the 2011 Constitution, the strengthening of national human rights mechanisms, ongoing judicial reforms, and the institutional independence of the judiciary.
A partnership rooted in shared values
The renewed Neighborhood Partnership reflects Morocco’s determination to align its institutions with modern international standards. This alignment is evident in areas such as audiovisual regulation (with Morocco’s High Authority for Audiovisual Communication (HACA) serving on the European Audiovisual Observatory’s Executive Council since 2013), sports development, and gender equality—a principle explicitly protected under Article 19 of the Constitution.
Strengthening Euro-Moroccan cooperation
Morocco and the Council of Europe share long-standing, multifaceted relations. The Kingdom stands out as one of the most engaged partners in the region, having ratified 13 conventions and protocols covering justice, cybercrime, data protection, and more.
Morocco holds a unique position as the first Southern Neighborhood country—and the only African representative—to hold the status of “Partner for Democracy” at the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE). It remains the sole country in the region to have achieved the “Partner for Local Democracy” status with the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities (CLRAE).
