On 15 February 2020, Mr. Stefano DOMINIONI, Executive Secretary of the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Cultural Routes (EPA) and Director of the European Institute of Cultural Routes (EICR) held an online meeting with Mr. Driss EL KAISSI, Consul General of Morocco; Mr. Giuseppe ZAFFUTO, Spokesperson of the Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe and Mr. François MOYSE, President of the European Association for the Preservation and Promotion of Jewish Culture and Heritage (AEPJ). The Consul General of Morocco expressed his interest to organise an event on Moroccan Jewish culture at the Council of Europe headquarters for the month of November. The initiative was received with enthusiasm by the other participants, who pledged their support for further planning steps.

Morocco, a fully-fledged member of various Council of Europe partial agreements, is a valuable partner. For over 2000 years, Jews and Muslims have lived together in Morocco and cooperated in the development of a rich cultural heritage in a particular context of multiculturalism. With the planning of a special event, Morocco could make a valuable contribution to the joint effort to foster understanding and appreciation of the culture and heritage of Jewish people in Europe and beyond.

Since 2004, the European Routes of Jewish Heritage is a certified Cultural Route of the Council of Europe and functions as a platform that helps to develop cultural initiatives and educational programs for European Jewish sites; acts as a channel for intercultural dialogue and promotes a better knowledge and understanding of Jewish and European history.