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THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 186, in conjunction with Article 218(5) thereof,Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,Whereas:
(1)Decision (EU) 2017/1324 of the European Parliament and of the Councilnote established the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA) under Horizon 2020 – Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2014-2020), established by Regulation (EU) No 1291/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Councilnote, for a period until 31 December 2028.
(2)The Kingdom of Morocco (‘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’)note. The purpose of the PRIMA Agreement is to set out the terms and conditions for the participation of Morocco in PRIMA. The PRIMA Agreement is to remain in force for as long as Decision (EU) 2017/1324 is in force.
(3)Decision (EU) 2024/1167 of the European Parliament and of the Councilnote 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 Councilnote, 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.
(4)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.
(5)To that end, on 9 November 2023 the Council adopted Decision (EU) 2023/2621note, 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 ‘Agreement’).
(6)The negotiations were successfully concluded by the initialling of the Agreement on 8 September 2025.
(7)Therefore, the Agreement should be signed.
(8)In order to allow Morocco to continue its participation in PRIMA under Horizon Europe as soon as possible, the Agreement should be applied on a provisional basis, pending its entry into force,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1#
The signing of 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)note is hereby authorised, subject to the conclusion of that Agreement.
Source: EUR-Lex, © European Union, 1998-2026. Reuse authorised under Decision 2011/833/EU.