فاس نيوز ميديا جريدة الكترونية جهوية تعنى بشؤون و أخبار جهة فاس مكناس – متجددة على مدار الساعة
Belgian Minister of Justice Annelies Verlinden praised, on Monday in Brussels, the excellence of the existing judicial cooperation between her country and Morocco, stressing that this coordination represents an effective model for addressing security-related challenges and combating organized crime.
Her remarks followed talks with Moroccan Minister of Justice Abdellatif Ouahbi, which focused on ways to strengthen legal and judicial cooperation between the two countries and intensify coordination on issues of mutual interest.
In a press statement, the Belgian Minister of Justice highlighted the quality of relations between the judicial authorities in Rabat and Brussels, noting that the current cooperation is based on mutual trust and operational efficiency. She also announced the signing, on the same day, of a joint action plan aimed at upgrading this cooperation in the coming phase.
She explained that the plan reflects a shared commitment to intensifying efforts to confront organized crime, particularly cross-border criminal activities, in a manner that serves the security and stability of both countries.
For his part, the Moroccan Minister of Justice expressed his satisfaction with the level of discussions held with his Belgian counterpart, considering that the meeting reflects the strength of bilateral relations and the depth of the partnership between Morocco and Belgium across several fields.
He added that the talks addressed the exchange of judicial and security information, issues related to the transfer of sentenced persons, and the development of coordination mechanisms between the relevant institutions, in order to ensure greater effectiveness in handling judicial cases.
The discussions also provided an opportunity to reaffirm the importance of strengthening cooperation in the fight against organized crime, including transnational criminal networks, illicit trafficking, and money laundering. Both sides stressed the need to further develop judicial cooperation mechanisms, exchange expertise, and enhance coordination between the competent authorities in both countries.
On the sidelines of the meeting, a joint action plan was signed between the Moroccan Ministry of Justice and the Belgian Ministry of Justice. The plan was signed by Rima Leblaïli, Director of Cooperation and Communication at the Moroccan Ministry of Justice, and Mathilde Steenbergen, Chair of the Management Committee of the Belgian Federal Public Service for Justice.
Spanning a two-year period, the plan constitutes an integrated program of joint activities aimed at developing judicial cooperation—particularly in criminal matters—supporting joint efforts to combat organized crime, and exchanging expertise in the modernization of justice and the digitization of judicial services.
The plan also includes strengthening training programs and capacity building for justice professionals, improving coordination mechanisms for the transfer of sentenced persons and the enforcement of judgments, in full respect of national laws and international commitments.
The signing of this plan reflects the two sides’ determination to establish practical and sustainable cooperation based on mutual trust and the exchange of expertise, thereby supporting judicial reform processes and strengthening the strategic partnership between the Kingdom of Morocco and the Kingdom of Belgium.
The meeting was attended by Morocco’s Ambassador to Belgium and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, Mohamed Ameur, as well as the Morocco–Belgium liaison judge Iman El Maliki and the Director of Criminal Affairs and Pardons, Hicham Mellati.
Source: Fes News Media
