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

The meeting brought together representatives from the ministries and institutions involved in this partnership, officials from the Council of Europe Office in Rabat, as well as representatives of embassies of Council of Europe member states accredited to Morocco.

Discussions were structured around two panels: one dedicated to the achievements and prospects of the new Morocco–Council of Europe Neighbourhood Partnership, and the other focusing on concrete approaches to ensure the sustainable implementation of projects under this framework.

Since His Majesty King Mohammed VI ascended the throne, Morocco 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 reinforcement of national mechanisms for human rights promotion and protection, the ongoing reform of the judicial system, and the consecration of judicial independence.

This Neighbourhood Partnership with the Council of Europe is exactly in line with the enlightened Vision of the Sovereign, reflecting Morocco’s continued determination to anchor its institutions in modernity and respect for international standards.

This commitment has also been demonstrated by the deepening of cooperation with Council of Europe bodies in areas such as audiovisual regulation (Morocco, through HACA, has been a member of the Executive Council of the European Audiovisual Observatory since 2013, the only non-European country in its region to hold a seat), sport, and the promotion of gender equality, a principle enshrined in Article 19 of the Constitution.

Indeed, Morocco and the Council of Europe maintain longstanding, multi-dimensional relations. Morocco stands out as one of the most committed partners in the region, having acceded to 13 conventions and protocols in various fields, including justice, cybercrime, and data protection.

The Kingdom of Morocco is also the first country from the Southern Neighbourhood and the sole representative from the African continent to hold the status of “Partner for Democracy” with the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). It 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).