Morocco Approves Institutional Reforms, Strengthens Governance and Public Administration
Rabat, The Gulf Observer: Morocco’s Government Council on Thursday approved a series of draft laws aimed at modernizing key public institutions, strengthening governance, and updating the legal framework governing strategic sectors during a meeting chaired by Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch in Rabat.
The Council adopted legislative reforms concerning the Adoul profession, the national statistical system, and the High Commission for Planning (HCP), while also reviewing a customs cooperation agreement with Egypt and approving several senior government appointments.
Among the key measures, the Council approved Draft Law No. 51.26 on the organization of the Adoul profession, presented by the Minister of Justice. The legislation aligns the legal framework with a ruling of Morocco’s Constitutional Court on Law No. 16.22 and seeks to strengthen regulations governing Adoul, judicial officers responsible for authenticating legal documents and contracts, while ensuring compliance with Article 134 of the Constitution.
The Council also endorsed Draft Law No. 46.26 establishing a new legal framework for Morocco’s National Statistical System. Presented by the Minister of the Interior, the bill aims to modernize the country’s official statistics framework by clearly defining institutional responsibilities, governance mechanisms, and internationally recognized statistical principles.
A central feature of the legislation is the establishment of the National Council for Statistical Information, an independent regulatory body with legal personality and financial autonomy. Created under Article 159 of the Constitution, the council will oversee compliance with official statistical standards, monitor the performance of the national statistical system, and enhance the quality and reliability of public data.
In a related institutional reform, the Government Council approved Draft Law No. 47.26 concerning the High Commission for Planning (HCP), transforming it into an autonomous institution of good governance with legal personality and administrative and financial independence.
Under the new framework, the HCP will continue producing official statistics and national, regional, and sectoral accounts while assuming an expanded role in coordinating, monitoring, and evaluating public development policies in line with Morocco’s New Development Model.
The Council also reviewed a customs cooperation agreement with Egypt, accompanied by Draft Law No. 37.26 approving the convention. Presented by the Minister of Industry and Trade on behalf of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, the agreement is intended to enhance bilateral customs cooperation and strengthen coordination between the two countries.
In accordance with Article 92 of the Constitution, the Government Council approved several senior appointments. Yahia Oukach was appointed Director of Employment at the Ministry of Economic Inclusion, Small Enterprise, Employment and Skills, while Mohamed Amine Lahrach was named Director General for Digital Transition at the Ministry Delegate in charge of Digital Transition and Administrative Reform.
The reforms adopted during Thursday’s meeting reflect Morocco’s broader efforts to modernize its institutional framework, improve public governance, enhance the quality of official statistics, strengthen strategic public administration, and expand international cooperation.
