Since the adoption of the Council of Europe Policy towards Neighbouring Regions by the Committee of Ministers in 2011, Morocco has been a strategic partner working to strengthen human rights, democracy, and the rule of law. This co-operation is framed by agreements such as the European Commission for Democracy through Law (Venice Commission) or the European Centre for Global Interdependence and Solidarity (North-South Centre), shaping both political dialogue and targeting technical assistance as key priorities.

The Neighbourhood Partnership with Morocco for 2026-2029 will further strengthen co-operation between the Council of Europe and the Kingdom of Morocco and enlarge the common legal space linking both shores of the Mediterranean. It will continue to support the Moroccan authorities in their reforms related to human rights, the rule of law and democracy, drawing on key Council of Europe conventions. Capacity-building efforts will continue in particular in the areas of justice, the fight against violence against women and children, trafficking in human beings, data protection and the fight against corruption and money laundering. The partnership will also accompany Morocco in the processes of accession to conventions open to non-member States and in the promotion of new legal instruments, while enhancing the skills of justice professionals, notably through Council of Europe tools such as the European Programme for Human Rights Education for Legal Professionals (HELP Programme).

The bilateral joint programme MA-JUST (2024–2027), co-financed by the European Union and the Council of Europe, and implemented by the Council of Europe, aims to make Morocco’s justice system more protective, accessible, and effective. Its focus is on broadening judicial protection of rights, improving access to justice, especially for vulnerable groups, and increasing efficiency and digitalisation in the justice sector, in full partnership with key national judicial institutions

Morocco is a member or observer in several Council of Europe bodies, including the Venice Commission, the North-South Centre, the CEPEJ, and the CCPE. The Moroccan Parliament holds Partner for Democracy status with the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, and Morocco was the first country to receive Partner for Local Democracy status from the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities. Morocco is party to key conventions such as the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime, Convention 108+ on data protection, the Medicrime Convention, and the Convention on Laundering, Search, Seizure and Confiscation of the Proceeds from Crime and on the Financing of Terrorism, reflecting its commitment to a joint Euro-Mediterranean legal space.

Financial support for these initiatives comes from the European Union, the Council of Europe, and voluntary contributions from several Council of Europe member States. The Council of Europe Office in Rabat co-ordinates and implements activities in-country, ensuring effective local engagement.

These broad and multi-layered efforts contribute to Morocco's progress towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Through the actions implemented in 2023, the Neighbourhood Partnership with Morocco 2022-2025 contributed to the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), notably SDG 3 (target 5), SDG 4 (target 7), SDG 5 (targets 1and 2), SDG 8 (target 7), SDG 10 and SDG 16 (targets 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 10).

More information: Overview of the Council of Europe Contribution to the UN 2030 Agenda.