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

Participants included representatives from relevant ministries and institutions, officials from the Council of Europe Office in Rabat, and ambassadors of European Union member states accredited to Morocco.

The sessions featured two key panels: one reviewing the achievements and future outlook of the partnership, and another focusing on practical strategies for sustainable project implementation.

Morocco has been advancing a broad reform agenda since the accession of His Majesty King Mohammed VI to the throne, aiming to strengthen democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. Guided by a vision of modernising the state, the country has adopted strong constitutional commitments to these goals.

Significant progress has been made, including the consolidation of democratic institutions enshrined in the 2011 Constitution, the enhancement of national mechanisms for human rights promotion and protection, judicial reform, and the affirmation of judicial independence.

This forward-looking approach aligns with the Neighbourhood Partnership with the Council of Europe, reflecting Morocco’s ongoing commitment to anchoring its institutions in global best practices and international standards.

The initiative also deepens cooperation with Council of Europe bodies in areas such as audiovisual regulation—where Morocco, through the High Authority for Audiovisual Communication (HACA), has been a member of the European Audiovisual Observatory’s Executive Council since 2013 and the only non-European country in the region to hold this position—sports, and gender equality, a principle enshrined in Article 19 of the Constitution.

Morocco’s long-standing and multifaceted relationship with the Council of Europe is highlighted by its engagement with 13 conventions and protocols covering justice, cybercrime, data protection, and more.

The Kingdom stands out as one of the most committed partners in the region, being the first Southern Neighbourhood country and the sole African representative 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 also earned the “Partner for Local Democracy” status with the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities (CLRAE).