EU–Morocco agreement amending and supplementing the agreement setting out the terms and conditions for the participation of Morocco in the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA)

PURPOSE: to conclude the agreement, in the form of an Exchange of Letters, between the European Union and the Kingdom of Morocco amending and supplementing the Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the European Union and the Kingdom of Morocco setting out the terms and conditions for the participation of the Kingdom of Morocco in the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA).

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Council may adopt the act only if Parliament has given its consent to the act.

BACKGROUND: Decision (EU) 2017/1324 of the European Parliament and of the Council established the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA) under Horizon 2020 – Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2014-2020), for a period until 31 December 2028.

Morocco is one of the 19 Participating States of PRIMA, having concluded an agreement for scientific and technological cooperation setting out the terms and conditions for its participation in the partnership (the ‘PRIMA Agreement’). The purpose of the PRIMA Agreement is to set out the terms and conditions for the participation of Morocco in PRIMA.

Decision (EU) 2024/1167 of the European Parliament and of the Council extended PRIMA’s overall duration under Horizon Europe – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (‘Horizon Europe’), established by Regulation (EU) 2021/695 of the European Parliament and of the Council, until 31 December 2031. It also provides for Morocco to continue to participate in PRIMA under Horizon Europe, subject to the conclusion of an agreement, in the form of an exchange of letters, amending and supplementing the PRIMA Agreement.

Since Morocco has expressed its interest in continuing to participate in PRIMA under Horizon Europe, it should formally accept the updated terms and conditions for such participation.

To that end, the Council adopted Decision (EU) 2023/2621, authorising the Commission to negotiate an agreement, in the form of an exchange of letters, amending and supplementing the PRIMA Agreement and setting out the terms and conditions for the participation of Morocco in PRIMA under Horizon Europe. The negotiations were successfully concluded by the initialling of the Agreement on 8 September 2025. The agreement was signed subject to its conclusion at a later date and now require approval.

CONTENT: the draft Council decision aims to approve the agreement in the form of an exchange of letters between the European Union and the Kingdom of Morocco amending and supplementing the Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the European Union and the Kingdom of Morocco setting out the terms and conditions for the participation of the Kingdom of Morocco in the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA).

As a reminder, PRIMA's strategic objective is to build research and innovation capacities and develop knowledge and common innovative solutions for agri-food systems to make them renewable, as well as for water management and supply in the Mediterranean area.