Morocco and Spain signed a broad set of cooperation agreements on Thursday in Madrid, covering foreign policy, economy, justice, transportation, agriculture, maritime fisheries, education, scientific research, sports, and sustainable mobility. The signing ceremony took place during the 13th High-Level Meeting, co-chaired by Moroccan Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, and attended by several ministers from both sides.
In the field of foreign policy, Minister of Foreign Affairs Nasser Bourita and his Spanish counterpart José Manuel Albares signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on feminist foreign policy. The agreement seeks to promote dialogue and exchange of experiences to advance gender equality within the foreign policy frameworks of both countries.
The two ministers also signed an MoU aimed at strengthening cooperation between the Moroccan Institute for Training, Research, and Diplomatic Studies and the Spanish Diplomatic School. This partnership will enable the exchange of expertise, joint training programs, and a sustained framework for developing the capacities of young diplomats. A related MoU on young diplomats’ mobility was also inked, establishing training programs that enhance understanding of public policies and strategic priorities in both Morocco and Spain.
At the institutional level, a Declaration of Intent between Morocco’s General Secretariat of the Government and the Spanish Ministry of the Presidency, Justice, and Parliamentary Relations aims to support the modernization of Morocco’s Official Printing Office. The cooperation will focus on updating the institution’s strategy, expanding its operational capacities, and developing reliable performance indicators.
Bourita and Albares further signed an MoU on documentary heritage and digitization, paving the way for cooperation on archive management, preservation methods, and digital access to documentation. The agreement emphasizes knowledge exchange and the improvement of mechanisms for digitization and digital archiving.
In the area of justice, Minister of Justice Abdellatif Ouahbi and Albares signed an MoU enabling the electronic exchange of international legal assistance requests. The agreement establishes a joint working group responsible for assessing legal and technological requirements for digital submission and processing of such requests.
Economic cooperation was strengthened through an MoU on tax cooperation, signed by Minister of Economy and Finance Nadia Fettah Alaoui and Albares. The document focuses on sharing expertise in taxation, adapting to global tax reforms, improving collection systems, and exploring technological solutions to enhance tax administration efficiency.
A joint declaration on combating hate speech—particularly hate targeting migrant workers—was also initialed by Bourita and Spanish Minister for Inclusion, Social Security and Migration Elma Saiz Delgado. The declaration outlines a comprehensive framework to prevent, detect, and combat all forms of hate speech through coordinated and sustainable efforts.
Scientific cooperation was reinforced through an MoU between the National Center for Scientific and Technical Research (CNRST) and the National Geographic Institute of Spain. The agreement covers joint research on seismic activity, geodynamics, lithospheric structure, and earthquake and tsunami monitoring systems across the Iberian-Maghreb region.
Agricultural cooperation took a significant step forward as Minister of Agriculture Ahmed El Bouari and Spanish Minister Luis Planas Puchades signed an MoU focusing on agroecology, farm modernization, food security, training, and technical exchanges. The agreement promotes more sustainable and resilient agriculture across both nations.
In maritime fisheries, Morocco’s Secretary of State for Maritime Fisheries Zakia Driouech and Planas signed a cooperation MoU covering aquaculture development, the fight against illegal fishing, digital verification of catch certificates, and improved exchange of trade information on fishery products.
Education cooperation also expanded with the signing of an agreement governing the teaching of Arabic language and Moroccan culture in Spanish schools in Morocco. Minister of National Education Mohamed Saad Berrada and his Spanish counterpart María del Pilar Alegría Continente signed the agreement, which establishes the criteria for Moroccan teaching staff in these institutions.
The two education ministers also initialed an MoU on sports cooperation, focusing on combating doping, preventing harassment and discrimination, supporting athletes with disabilities, and promoting knowledge-sharing through training and international events.
Finally, Saiz Delgado and Moroccan Minister of Health and Social Protection Amine Tahraoui signed a joint decision extending the application of the MoU on social protection and social security for an additional two years. This extension aims to further strengthen institutional cooperation, improve governance, and enhance bilateral coordination in this key social sector.
Altogether, the agreements signed in Madrid reflect the shared commitment of Morocco and Spain to expanding their strategic partnership and deepening cooperation across multiple sectors in support of development, modernization, and regional stability.
