As part of the preparations for the organization of the 2030 Football World Cup, and aware of the importance of creating a framework conducive to the success of this major sporting event between Morocco and Portugal, the Minister of Justice, Abdellatif Ouahbi, made an official visit to the Portuguese Republic on Friday January 24, 2025. On this occasion, he met his counterpart, Rita Alarcão Júdice, at the headquarters of the Portuguese Ministry of Justice in Lisbon.
This meeting provided an opportunity to examine progress in judicial cooperation between the two countries, while exploring new perspectives aimed at consolidating their historic bilateral relations. The exchanges also made it possible to discuss issues of common interest falling within the competences of the two ministries.
At the end of this meeting, a joint declaration of intent was signed, defining several strategic objectives:
1. Facilitate access to justice for all parties involved in the organization and staging of the 2030 World Cup,
2. Digitize legal procedures to ensure rapid, secure and efficient processing of cases related to this event,
3. Strengthen the skills of justice professionals through specialized training in the management of cross-border disputes, legal security and protection of the rights of the parties concerned,
4. Optimize bilateral judicial coordination for effective management of cases with a transnational dimension,
5. Develop alternative conflict resolution mechanisms, particularly for disputes related to the organizational, contractual and commercial aspects of the event,
-6. Develop strategic action plans to ensure the effective implementation of joint legal and judicial cooperation programs.
The two ministers praised the solidity of friendly relations between their two countries and stressed the importance of cooperation in the field of justice. They also recalled that existing bilateral agreements demonstrate the quality of this partnership.
The discussions highlighted the key role of a modern and efficient judicial system in strengthening legal security, transparency and respect for the rule of law, essential conditions to ensure the success of major international events.
In the context of the joint organization of the World Cup by Morocco, Portugal and Spain, the two ministers explored the possibility of further formalizing this tripartite cooperation through the conclusion of specific agreements in the near future. They also affirmed that their mutual commitment, as expressed in the declaration of intent, will remain in force until the end of the event in 2030.
This meeting illustrates the shared desire of Morocco and Portugal to promote innovative and collaborative justice, serving the success of this global sporting event and the deepening of historic bilateral relations.
