Morocco’s parliament has approved 22 international agreements covering economic, legal, transport, maritime and security cooperation, as the North African kingdom seeks to deepen ties with partners across Africa, the Middle East, Europe and Asia.
The agreements, adopted by the House of Representatives on Monday, include 17 bilateral accords and five multilateral agreements involving a range of countries and international organizations.
Presenting the agreements to lawmakers, Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita said they reflected Morocco’s strategy of expanding international partnerships while focusing on practical outcomes and measurable benefits.
“These agreements reflect Morocco’s commitment to strengthening international cooperation and expanding partnerships in various sectors,” Bourita told parliament.
He said the accords span both emerging and traditional areas of cooperation, including technology, innovation, transport, logistics, industrial development, taxation, customs administration, maritime affairs and judicial cooperation.
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According to the foreign minister, several of the agreements signed with countries including Azerbaijan, Pakistan, Burkina Faso and Cameroon carry significant economic potential, particularly in the areas of transport services, logistics, trade facilitation and broader economic collaboration.
On the economic front, parliament approved seven agreements aimed at strengthening trade and investment ties.
These include customs cooperation arrangements with Guinea-Bissau, tax agreements with Chad and Burundi, and transport-related accords covering the movement of goods and passengers. Other agreements involve air services cooperation with Côte d’Ivoire, mutual recognition of driving licences with Chad and logistics cooperation with Azerbaijan.
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Morocco has increasingly sought to position itself as a regional logistics and transport hub linking Europe, Africa and the Middle East, making such agreements a key component of its economic diplomacy.
In the legal sphere, lawmakers approved seven agreements focusing on judicial cooperation, including mutual legal assistance in criminal matters, extradition procedures and the transfer of convicted persons.
The agreements involve several partner countries, including Malawi, Saudi Arabia and Austria, and are intended to facilitate cross-border legal cooperation and strengthen efforts to combat transnational crime.
Three military cooperation agreements were also ratified, covering defence and security collaboration with Burkina Faso, Cameroon and Azerbaijan.
While details of the defence accords were not disclosed, such agreements typically provide frameworks for military training, information sharing, capacity building and security cooperation.
The five multilateral agreements include arrangements related to the establishment of regional organizations headquartered in Rabat, including African institutions, as well as measures aimed at aligning Morocco’s maritime transport regulations with international standards governing passenger transportation and seafarer documentation.
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Bourita said the agreements form part of a broader diplomatic doctrine that prioritises effectiveness and tangible outcomes over symbolic gestures.
He noted that Morocco no longer seeks to accumulate agreements simply to demonstrate diplomatic activity, but instead evaluates each accord based on its practical value and potential impact.
“The objective is to achieve tangible results and concrete benefits,” he said, adding that agreements are assessed according to their diplomatic, economic, security and consular value.
The minister described the approach as pragmatic and results-oriented, reflecting Morocco’s efforts to align foreign policy with national development priorities.
According to data presented during the parliamentary session, approximately two-thirds of the agreements involve African countries, underscoring Morocco’s growing engagement across the continent.
Over the past decade, Rabat has significantly expanded its political, economic and security partnerships in sub-Saharan Africa, with Moroccan banks, telecommunications companies, insurers and industrial firms increasing their presence in several African markets.
Bourita also highlighted that a significant number of the agreements were signed in the southern cities of Dakhla and Laayoune, reflecting what he described as the geographical diversification of Morocco’s diplomatic outreach.
Analysts say the approval of the agreements demonstrates Morocco’s continued emphasis on economic diplomacy and regional integration as it seeks to strengthen its position as a gateway between Africa, Europe and the wider international community.
The agreements are expected to enter into force following the completion of the necessary legal and administrative procedures by the parties involved.
