Morocco and Portugal sign 12 cross-sectoral cooperation agreements

On May 12, 2023

To strengthen their bilateral collaboration, Morocco and Portugal inked a total of 12 agreements on Friday, May 12 in Lisbon. These agreements covered several critical areas.

These agreements were signed today at the 14th High Level Bilateral Meeting (HLM) between the two nations, which was presided over by Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch and Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa.

The accords touch on important subjects including the economy, energy, culture, higher education, handicrafts, social cohesion, and justice.

What follows is a run-down of the agreements signed today:

– Agreement on cooperation in civil protection between the Government of both countries: This agreement establishes the legal framework applicable in the field of civil protection which includes the protection of persons, property against serious accidents and disasters of natural or technological origin and this in accordance with the laws in force in both countries. It was signed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccans Residing Abroad, Nasser Bourita, and his Portuguese counterpart João Gomes Cravinho.

– Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the legal field of training and administration of justice: This MoU, signed by the two Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Moroccan and Portuguese, defines the conditions of institutional cooperation in the legal field, training and administration of justice between the two Ministries of Justice and this through the exchange of information on legislation and jurisprudence, the exchange of experience in this area, the promotion of cooperation in the training of judges and judicial police officers…

– Memorandum of Understanding in the field of development and promotion of housing in the rural world (signed by Bourita and Gomez Cravinho): This MoU aims to intensify cooperation between the two countries in order to develop partnerships in the field of development and promotion of rural housing through the exchange of experience and information and technical and social assistance in the field of land use planning as well as the exchange of experience in the field of sustainable development in construction and renewable energy.

– Implementation Program of the Cultural and Scientific Agreement for the years 2023-2024 (signed by Bourita and Gomez Cravinho): This Implementation Program presents a general framework for cooperation between the two countries in the areas of language, education, scientific and technological research, culture, communication, sports and youth.

– Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Solidarity, Social Integration and Family and the Ministry of Labor, Solidarity and Social Security: The parties agree through this MoU to develop their cooperation in social areas to fight against violence against women, improve the provision of services and care in the Social Protection Establishments (EPS), promote the rights of children and people with disabilities, among others. It was signed by the Minister of Economic Inclusion, Small Business, Employment and Skills, Younes Sekkouri, and the Portuguese Minister of Labor, Solidarity and Social Security, Ana Mendes Godinho.

– Memorandum of Understanding in the field of Handicrafts and Social Economy between the Governments of the two countries: This Agreement, signed by the Minister of Tourism, Handicrafts and Social and Solidarity Economy, Fatim-Zahra Ammor, and the Minister Ana Mendes Godinho, aims to establish a legal framework for cooperation in the field of handicrafts and Social and Solidarity Economy through the exchange of experience and expertise in the field of vocational training and development of artisans, the encouragement of professional partnership and the exchange of documentation

– Draft Implementation Program in the field of tourism for the years 2023-2025: This program aims to promote cooperation between the two countries in the field of tourism through the exchange of expertise, know-how in tourism engineering, best practices on sustainable tourism and experience in the assembly and operationalization of support mechanisms for SMEs, the development of training and qualification of human resources working in the tourism sector and the development of joint promotional actions in distant markets. The said program was signed by Ammor and the Minister of Economy and Sea, António Costa Silva.

– Memorandum of Understanding in the field of Research and Development: This Memorandum of Understanding, signed by the Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation, Abdellatif Miraoui, and the Minister of Science, Technology and Higher Education, Elvira Fortunato, aims to define the terms and conditions of collaboration between the Parties in priority areas and high potential partnership related to higher education, scientific research and innovation and this through the promotion of academic and scientific cooperation, the development of exchanges and mobility of students, etc.

– Memorandum of Understanding in the field of Environment and Sustainable Development: The objective of this MoU is to develop bilateral cooperation in the field of environment and sustainable development, environmental governance, energy transition, liquid sanitation and industrial depollution, etc., through the exchange of information and visits, the reciprocal hosting of trainees and any form of cooperation agreed by both Parties The MoU was signed by the Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, Leila Benali, and the Minister of Environment and Climate Action, Duarte Cordeiro.

– Memorandum of Understanding in the areas of Youth, Women and Non-discrimination: The objective of this MoU signed by the Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication, Mohammed Mehdi Bensaid, and the Deputy Minister and Parliamentary Affairs, Ana Catarina Mendes, is to develop cooperation in the areas of youth and women through the exchange of expertise and good practice, support to the governance of youth houses, promotion of female entrepreneurship and economic and social atomization of women.

– Draft Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Investment, Convergence and Policy Evaluation and the Secretariat of State for International Trade and Foreign Investment: The purpose of this Memorandum is to define the strategic orientations, priority sectors and the modalities of implementation of the collaboration between the Parties concerned, particularly in terms of promotion and facilitation of direct investments between the two countries in economic sectors. This protocol was also signed by the Minister Delegate to the Head of Government in charge of Investment, Convergence and Evaluation of Public Policies, Mohcine Jazouli, and the Secretary of State for Internationalization, Bernerdo Ivo Cruz.

– Draft Protocol of Cooperation in the port field between the National Agency of Ports (ANP) and the Association of Ports of Portugal (APP): The Protocol, signed by the Ambassador of the King in Lisbon, Othmane Bahnini, and the President of the Association of Ports of Portugal, João Neves, aims to establish a framework to promote cooperation between the APP and the ANP to establish a system of exchange of experience and expertise and best practices to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of port services and promote their respective ports.