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 official launch ceremony of the fifth phase of the Morocco-Council of Europe Neighbourhood Partnership (2026-2029).

The event brought together representatives of departments and institutions involved in this partnership, officials from the Council of Europe office in Rabat, and ambassadors of Council of Europe member states accredited to Morocco.

Discussions were structured around two panels: one focused on achievements and prospects of the new neighbourhood partnership, and the other on concrete approaches to ensure sustainable implementation of projects under this framework.

Since His Majesty King Mohammed VI’s accession to the throne, Morocco has embarked on a wide-ranging reform process aimed at strengthening democracy, promoting human rights, and consolidating 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 enshrined in the 2011 Constitution, the strengthening of national mechanisms for promoting and protecting human rights, continued judicial reform, and the affirmation of judicial independence.

It is precisely within this enlightened royal vision that the neighbourhood partnership with the Council of Europe takes shape, reflecting Morocco’s ongoing commitment to anchoring its institutions in modernity and compliance with international standards.

This commitment has also translated into deepened 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 the region to hold a seat), sports, and the promotion of gender equality—a principle enshrined in Article 19 of the Constitution.

Morocco and the Council of Europe share long-standing and multidimensional relations. Morocco stands as one of the most engaged partners from the region, having acceded to 13 conventions and protocols in areas including justice, cybercrime, and data protection.

The Kingdom of Morocco is also the first country from the southern neighbourhood and the only representative from the African continent to sit as a “Partner for Democracy” 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 (CPLR).