Brussels: A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was inked on Wednesday in Brussels between the Higher Institute of Magistracy (ISM) and the Belgian Judicial Training Institute (IFJ), with the aim of strengthening institutional cooperation between the two parties in the field of judicial training.
According to Agence Marocaine De Presse, the MoU reflects the commitment of both institutions to develop an advanced model of expertise exchange and sharing of best practices in terms of judicial training. It was signed by the Director General of the ISM, Abdelhanine Touzani, and the Director of the IFJ, Raf Van Ransbeek, in the presence of the Ambassador of Morocco to Belgium and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, Mohamed Ameur.
The memorandum of understanding, which falls within the framework of strengthening cooperation and partnership between the Kingdom of Morocco and the Kingdom of Belgium, focuses in particular on areas such as the management of judicial training institutes, judicial framework development, the enhancement of educational infrastructure, as well as the development of joint training programs and the organization of continuing education sessions for magistrates.
It is also meant to strengthen the capacities of justice system stakeholders, support global transformations in the fields of law, human rights, the fight against organized crime, and the development of governance and digital justice mechanisms, with the goal of contributing to the modernization of both countries’ judicial systems, consolidating communication channels between the two judicial authorities, and enhancing the performance of their institutions.
Touzani told MAP that the signing of this memorandum is part of opening national judicial institutions to international partnerships and strengthening judicial cooperation at the international level, highlighting the strong ties between Morocco and Belgium across political, economic, and judicial domains.
This agreement will allow magistrates from both countries to exchange their expertise and best practices, particularly in judicial training, continuing education, and judicial administration, he stressed, noting that this memorandum formalizes an already strong cooperation relationship between the two parties.
For his part, Van Ransbeek welcomed the signing of this memorandum of understanding, which will further strengthen the cooperation and exchange of expertise between the two institutions, affirming that this agreement paves the way for the creation of joint training programs and the deepening of collaboration between the two institutions for the benefit of judicial training and the justice systems of both countries.
He also commended the excellent level of judicial cooperation between the two countries, noting that Morocco is notably the only country with which Belgium has signed an agreement for the exchange of liaison magistrates. Van Ransbeek pointed out that this memorandum of understanding formalizes an already very advanced partnership and exchange relationship in this field.
Imane El Malki, liaison magistrate to Belgium and Luxembourg, said that this MoU constitutes a strategically important framework, which will allow consolidating achievements and improving the partnership and governance methods of the two institutions, in light of recent developments in international law, digital justice, and the global human rights system.