Rabat hosts launch of fifth phase of Morocco-Council of Europe neighbourhood partnership

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates hosted on Tuesday in Rabat the formal launch ceremony for the fifth phase of the Morocco–Council of Europe Neighbourhood Partnership (2026-2029).

This gathering brought together representatives from the various departments and institutions involved in the partnership, officials from the Council of Europe’s office in Rabat, and representatives of embassies of Council of Europe member states accredited to Morocco.

The proceedings centred on two panels: the first examined the achievements and prospects of the new Morocco–Council of Europe Neighbourhood Partnership, while the second addressed concrete approaches to ensure the sustainable implementation of projects under this framework.

Since His Majesty King Mohammed VI ascended the throne, the Kingdom has embarked on a broad reform process aimed at strengthening democracy, promoting human rights, and reinforcing the rule of law. Driven by ambition and a deep conviction 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 established by the 2011 Constitution, the enhancement of national mechanisms for the promotion and protection of human rights, the continued reform of the judicial system, and the affirmation of judicial independence.

It is precisely within this enlightened vision of the Sovereign that this neighbourhood partnership with the Council of Europe is framed, reflecting Morocco’s ongoing 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, and is the only non-European country and the only one from its region to sit on it), sport, and the promotion of gender equality—a principle enshrined in Article 19 of the Constitution.

Indeed, Morocco and the Council of Europe maintain long-standing and multidimensional relations. Morocco stands out as one of the most engaged partners in the region, having acceded to 13 conventions and protocols in various fields (justice, cybercrime, data protection, etc.).

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