Rabat – Morocco and Portugal are strengthening their judicial cooperation, with a focus on enhancing legal and judicial security. This follows high-level talks in Rabat on Thursday between Morocco’s Minister of Justice, Abdellatif Ouahbi, and his Portuguese counterpart, Rita Alarcao Júdice, during her official working visit.
The meeting provided an opportunity for both ministers to discuss ways to develop legal and judicial cooperation mechanisms, promote the exchange of expertise, and explore new partnership opportunities across civil and criminal justice, cross-border case management, and mutual legal assistance frameworks.
Ouahbi and Alarcao Júdice also agreed to continue implementing existing cooperation mechanisms, strengthen institutional coordination, and launch new joint initiatives. These include regular meetings between officials and experts, reciprocal visits, the creation of joint action plans, and the establishment of direct communication channels between judicial institutions in both countries.
In a statement to the Moroccan Press Agency (MAP), Ouahbi highlighted that the talks reflect a shared commitment to advancing judicial cooperation between Morocco and Portugal. He emphasized that improving coordination and exchanging expertise is crucial to addressing growing challenges in cross-border crime. Strengthening legal and judicial security, he added, is a key lever for building trust in the justice system and ensuring the protection of rights and freedoms.
Ouahbi also stressed the importance of modernizing Morocco’s justice system through accelerated digital transformation, streamlined procedures, enhanced international cooperation, and the effective implementation of judicial decisions. The overarching goal is to improve judicial performance and the quality of services provided to citizens.
For her part, Alarcao Júdice described the Morocco-Portugal judicial partnership as a model of constructive collaboration based on trust and expertise exchange. She noted that stronger coordination between judicial institutions supports joint efforts in addressing current legal challenges.
The Portuguese minister further reaffirmed her country’s commitment to sustaining this positive momentum through the sharing of best practices and enhanced cooperation in areas of common interest. These include combating organized crime, modernizing judicial administration, developing training and professional qualifications, and promoting digital tools in judicial management.
The meeting confirms both countries’ determination to advance judicial collaboration and reinforce legal security as a foundation for justice, transparency, and mutual trust.
