European community aid policy and pratice on governance and democracy in Morocco

Morocco is widely considered as the leading avant-garde for democratic transition in the Mediterranean region. Indeed a wind of liberty has been blowing in the country since the beginning of the post-Hassan II era in 1999. Important reforms have recently been undertaken - some with a high symbolical value, such as the updating of the family code (Mudawana) in an appeased political context. Pluralist elections were held and freedom of speech has substantially improved. At present, the European Union is probably the leading donor both in quantitative and qualitative terms in encouraging governance, democratic reforms and the respect of human rights in Morocco. The Euro-Moroccan bilateral co-operation system is sophisticated enough to allow for far-reaching, transversal actions that have an indirect political impact.

This report provides the general context for policies designed to support good governance, democracy and the respect of human rights in the Mediterranean in general, and in Morocco in particular, insisting on regional parameters that could influence the donors’ strategies in Morocco, and summarises the EU’s strategy for achieving these objectives. It assesses current programmes and projects, with particular reference to two case studies : one dealing with the promotion of civil society, the other on gender equality issues. The report goes on to examine the level of co-ordination among foreign donors, and concludes with some lessons and recommendations.

• Read the research report European community aid policy and pratice on governance and democracy (pdf)