Morocco and council of europe launch new neighbourhood partnership in Rabat

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

Representatives from various departments and institutions involved in the partnership attended the event, along with officials from the Council of Europe office in Rabat and ambassadors of Council of Europe member states accredited to Morocco.

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

Since King Mohammed VI ascended to the throne, Morocco has embarked on an extensive reform process aimed at strengthening democracy, promoting human rights and reinforcing the rule of law. Driven by a deep commitment to modernise the state, the kingdom has made binding constitutional commitments.

This momentum has allowed Morocco to achieve significant progress, notably through the consolidation of democratic institutions established by the 2011 Constitution, the reinforcement of national mechanisms for the promotion and protection of human rights, the ongoing reform of the judicial system, and the enshrinement of an independent judiciary.

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

This commitment has also been demonstrated through deeper cooperation with Council of Europe bodies in fields such as broadcasting—Morocco, through the High Authority for Audiovisual Communication (HACA), has been a member of the Executive Board of the European Audiovisual Observatory since 2013, and is the only non-European country from its region to sit there—sports and the promotion of gender equality, a principle enshrined in Article 19 of the Constitution.

Indeed, Morocco and the Council of Europe maintain longstanding and multifaceted ties. Morocco stands out as one of the most engaged partners in the region, having acceded to 13 conventions and protocols in areas 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 “Partner for Democracy” status in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), and remains the only country in the region to have obtained “Partner for Local Democracy” status with the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities (CLRA).