Strengthening Judicial Cooperation for the 2030 World Cup: The Moroccan Minister of Justice on Official Visit to Portugal

As part of the preparations for the organization of the 2030 FIFA World Cup, Moroccan Minister of Justice Abdellatif Ouahbi made an official visit to the Portuguese Republic on Friday, January 24, 2025. During this visit, he met with his counterpart, Rita Alarcão Júdice, at the headquarters of the Portuguese Ministry of Justice in Lisbon.

The main objective of this meeting was to discuss advancements in judicial cooperation between the two countries and to explore new avenues for strengthening their bilateral relations, particularly in the context of the 2030 World Cup. The discussions covered several matters of mutual interest that fall within the responsibilities of the respective ministries.

At the conclusion of this meeting, a joint declaration of intent was signed, outlining several strategic objectives aimed at ensuring the success of the event, including:

1. Facilitating access to justice for all parties involved in the organization and execution of the 2030 World Cup.
2. Digitizing judicial procedures to ensure a swift and secure handling of cases related to the event.
3. Enhancing the skills of legal professionals through specialized training on managing cross-border disputes and protecting rights.
4. Optimizing bilateral judicial coordination for effective management of transnational cases.
5. Developing alternative conflict resolution mechanisms to address organizational, contractual, and commercial disputes.
6. Formulating strategic plans for the implementation of joint legal and judicial cooperation programs.

Both ministers praised the strong ties between their countries and emphasized the importance of enhanced judicial cooperation to ensure transparency and effectiveness in organizing this global event. They also discussed the possibility of formalizing this tripartite cooperation with Spain by signing specific agreements before 2030.

This meeting highlighted the commitment of Morocco and Portugal to promote modern and collaborative justice, which is essential for the success of the 2030 World Cup and the strengthening of their bilateral relations.