Agadir – Morocco and the Netherlands are stepping up efforts to strengthen their bilateral cooperation, particularly in the fields of justice and security, following high-level talks held in Rabat on Tuesday.
Morocco’s Minister of Justice, Abdellatif Ouahbi, received his Dutch counterpart, Minister of Justice and Security David van Weel, who is on a working visit in Morocco accompanied by a Dutch delegation.
The meeting forms part of the implementation of the Joint Declaration signed by the two countries last year on December 5, in The Hague, which sets a roadmap to elevate bilateral ties between the two countries in many areas.
“This visit is part of the implementation of the Joint Declaration signed between the Kingdom of Morocco and the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and reflects the shared will to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the fields of justice and judicial security,” Ouahbi stated.
During the discussions, both sides reviewed progress made in key areas of cooperation and explored opportunities to further enhance collaboration.
Talks focused in particular on strengthening judicial cooperation, modernizing Morocco’s justice system, and promoting the exchange of expertise in judicial governance and the digitalization of legal services.
“Our discussions provided an opportunity to consolidate coordination and exchange expertise, contributing to the development of the justice system and addressing common challenges, particularly in combating organized crime and terrorism,” Ouahbi further explained.
The meeting also addressed ways to enhance cooperation in the security field, particularly in combating terrorism and transnational organized crime.
These discussions align with the outcomes of the Joint Declaration, which emphasized the establishment of regular bilateral dialogue in the security field.
The Joint Declaration also called for the creation of specialized institutional mechanisms, including a joint committee dedicated to counterterrorism issues.
“This visit reflects our countries’ commitment to strengthening a solid strategic partnership based on close cooperation in the fields of justice and security,” van Weel affirmed.
“Fruitful discussions were held with the Moroccan side on developing judicial cooperation and enhancing coordination in addressing cross-border challenges, in a way that serves the common interests of both countries,” he added.
The meeting concluded with both sides reaffirming their commitment to implementing the Joint Declaration and exploring new avenues for cooperation.
In parallel, Moroccan Foreign Affairs Minister Nasser Bourita met with his Dutch counterpart, Tom Berendsen, during which the Netherlands reaffirmed its support for UN Security Council Resolution 2797, calling Morocco’s Autonomy Plan as the only viable and credible solution to the Western Sahara dispute.
