Rabat, November 10, 2025 – The Europe Today: The Faculty of Law, Economics, and Social Sciences in Salé, part of Mohammed V University of Rabat, hosted on Saturday the inaugural edition of the “Morocco–Portugal Academic Meetings: Horizon 2030,” held in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Green March.
The event aimed to enhance academic, economic, and cultural cooperation between Morocco and Portugal, bringing together scholars, researchers, and institutional representatives from both countries to discuss pathways for future collaboration.
In his opening remarks, the Faculty’s Dean Mustapha Machrafi hailed the meeting as a significant milestone in strengthening educational exchange between Rabat and Lisbon.
“This academic meeting seeks to deepen academic relations between Portuguese and Moroccan universities,” Machrafi told Morocco World News on the sidelines of the conference.
The one-day gathering featured thematic panels dedicated to higher education partnerships, economic opportunities, and strategic cooperation. Participants also discussed preparations for joint global initiatives, notably the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which Morocco, Portugal, and Spain will co-host.
Professor Mohammed Benhammou, also from the Faculty of Law in Salé, emphasized the conference’s strategic importance.
“This is a very important conference. The main topic is the strategic relationship between Morocco and Portugal,” he said, adding that the co-hosting of the 2030 World Cup “opens new avenues for cooperation between the two countries.”
Morocco and Portugal enjoy a multifaceted partnership spanning politics, economy, education, and security. During the 14th High-Level Meeting in Lisbon in May 2023, both nations issued a joint statement pledging to elevate bilateral ties into a comprehensive strategic partnership, expanding cooperation into sectors such as tourism, trade, investment, and scientific research.
Economically, in November 2021, the two sides signed an agreement establishing a Joint Economic Council in Casablanca, designed to strengthen trade and investment relations and create new opportunities in key industries, including digital technology, aeronautics, automotive, and renewable energy.
On the security and judicial front, in January 2025, Morocco and Portugal signed a declaration of intent to reinforce cooperation in justice and legal reform, aligning with their shared preparations for the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
The “Horizon 2030” meetings are expected to become an annual platform for dialogue and collaboration, reinforcing the long-standing ties between Morocco and Portugal as they work toward shared academic and development goals.
