DR ‹ › In Rabat on Friday, Morocco, Spain, and Portugal signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at strengthening judicial cooperation mechanisms ahead of their joint organization of the 2030 World Cup. The agreement was signed by Morocco's Minister of Justice, Abdellatif Ouahbi, his Spanish counterpart Félix Bolaños, and Portugal's Minister of Justice, Rita Alarcão Júdice, who highlighted the significance of an event bringing together countries with diverse cultures, languages, and religions. The Spanish minister stressed that the three countries are committed to delivering a «model World Cup», noting that the partnership sends a strong message about the importance of cooperation between nations and respect for shared values, including peace, dialogue, and human rights. For his part, Ouahbi described the 2030 World Cup as a «football celebration» set to attract global attention, underlining the ambition to transform the area stretching from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic into a «large stadium» that unites people. He also called for the launch of a direct air route between Rabat and Lisbon, similar to the existing connection between Rabat and Madrid. Meanwhile, the Portuguese minister emphasized the strategic importance of judicial cooperation between the three countries, saying it reflects a shared vision of justice and could serve as a successful model on the international stage. The agreement aims to establish a legal framework for handling incidents related to matches and the organization of the World Cup, as well as potential commercial disputes between companies involved in preparations. It also provides for the creation of joint committees to coordinate efforts and expedite the handling of issues on the ground, while strengthening international cooperation through existing mechanisms, particularly in information exchange, urgent procedures, and judicial assistance in criminal, civil, and commercial matters.
