New Morocco-Council of Europe neighbourhood partnership launched in Rabat

The ministry of foreign affairs, African cooperation and Moroccan expatriates hosted the formal launch ceremony for the fifth phase of the Morocco–Council of Europe neighbourhood partnership (2026–2029) on Tuesday in Rabat.

Representatives from departments and institutions involved in the partnership, officials from the Council of Europe office in Rabat, and delegates from embassies of Council of Europe member states accredited to Morocco attended the meeting.

The proceedings centred on two panels: one reviewing achievements and prospects of the new Morocco–Council of Europe neighbourhood partnership, and another discussing concrete approaches to ensure sustainable implementation of projects under this framework.

Since the accession of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Morocco has embarked on a broad reform process aimed at strengthening democracy, promoting human rights, and reinforcing the rule of law. Driven by a firm ambition to modernise the state, the kingdom has made strong constitutional commitments.

This momentum has enabled Morocco to achieve significant progress, notably through the consolidation of democratic institutions enshrined in the 2011 constitution, the strengthening of national human rights promotion and protection mechanisms, the ongoing reform of the judicial system, and the establishment of an independent judiciary.

It is precisely within this enlightened vision of the sovereign that the neighbourhood partnership with the Council of Europe is rooted, reflecting Morocco’s continued determination to anchor its institutions in modernity and respect for international standards.

This commitment has also translated into deeper cooperation with Council of Europe bodies in areas such as audiovisual media (Morocco, through HACA, has been a member of the executive council of the European Audiovisual Observatory since 2013, the only non-European country from its region to hold a seat), sport, and the promotion of gender equality—a principle enshrined in article 19 of the constitution.

Morocco and the Council of Europe share long-standing, multi-dimensional ties. The kingdom stands as one of the region’s most engaged partners, having acceded to 13 conventions and protocols in various fields, including justice, cybercrime, and data protection.

Morocco is also the first country from the southern neighbourhood and the sole representative of the African continent to hold a “Partner for Democracy” seat in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). It remains the only country in the region to have obtained “Partner for Local Democracy” status with the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities (CLRA).