Morocco and Belgium Sign MoU to Tackle Transnational Crime

The Moroccan government is strengthening its legal and judicial cooperation with Belgium in the fight against organised crime, particularly transnational criminal networks, illicit trafficking, and money laundering.

Morocco’s Minister of Justice, Abdellatif Ouahbi, and his Belgian counterpart, Annelies Verlinden, held a bilateral meeting in Brussels on Monday to discuss elevating judicial cooperation between the two countries.

Both parties reaffirmed their shared commitment to reinforcing judicial cooperation in support of the rule of law, highlighting the strong and longstanding partnership between the two kingdoms.

According to an official Moroccan source, discussions focused heavily on cross-border crime, which both sides identified as a growing concern. The ministers stressed the importance of adapting existing cooperation frameworks to address evolving security and legal challenges.

The two ministers also agreed on the need to further enhance judicial cooperation by expanding information and expertise sharing, improving coordination between relevant authorities, and strengthening operational mechanisms.

As part of this effort, the Ministries of Justice of Morocco and Belgium signed a two-year joint action plan. The agreement prioritises capacity-building and specialised training for justice professionals, enhances coordination on the transfer of convicted persons, and supports more effective implementation and enforcement of judicial decisions.