Morocco and Spain signed a series of cooperation agreements Thursday during the 13th High-Level Meeting (HLM) held in Madrid, marking a new step in strengthening the strategic partnership between the two neighboring countries.
The signing ceremony, held at the Moncloa Palace, was chaired by Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. The accords span diplomacy, justice, taxation, agriculture, fisheries, culture, social protection, and the digitalization of public administration.
Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita represented the Moroccan side, while Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares signed on behalf of Madrid.
Among the key documents was a memorandum of understanding on feminist foreign policy, another on cooperation in diplomatic training, and a third establishing a mobility program for young diplomats. The two countries also adopted a declaration of intent to exchange expertise on the digital production and publication of legislative and regulatory texts, involving Spain’s National Official Gazette Agency and Morocco’s Official Printing Office.
Morocco and Spain also formalized cooperation on documentary heritage and digitization.
In the justice sector, Bourita and Albares signed an MoU enabling the electronic transmission of judicial cooperation requests. Morocco’s Justice Minister Abdellatif Ouahbi also took part in the process. Finance Minister Nadia Fettah Alaoui and her Spanish counterpart signed an MoU on tax cooperation.
Both governments approved a declaration of intent to cooperate in the fight against hate speech, as well as memorandums involving the Spanish National Geographic Institute and Morocco’s National Center for Scientific and Technical Research.
Agriculture and food industries were also central to the HLM. Spanish Agriculture Minister Luis Planas and Morocco’s Agriculture Minister Ahmed Bouriari signed an MoU designed to deepen cooperation in farming and agri-food industries.
In the fisheries sector, Secretary of State Zakia Drouich signed an MoU with Spain on fisheries cooperation, aquaculture development, and measures to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
Education and sports were also featured. Spain’s Minister of Education and Sports Pilar Alegría and Morocco’s Minister of Education Mohamed Saad Berada signed an administrative agreement enabling the teaching of Arabic and Moroccan culture in educational institutions operated by Spain in Morocco, alongside an MoU on sports cooperation.
Health and social protection ministers from both sides concluded an MoU on social protection and solidarity, signed by Morocco’s Minister of Health and Social Protection Amin Tohraoui and Spain’s Minister of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration, Elma Saiz.
The broad package of agreements reflects the strong momentum in bilateral relations since April 2022, when Madrid shifted its position on the Western Sahara issue to support Morocco’s autonomy plan. Since then, the two countries have emphasized coordinated action in political, economic, social and security matters.
Officials from both sides described the new agreements as evidence of a “deep, comprehensive strategic partnership” that prioritizes stability, shared prosperity and long-term cooperation.
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