PRIMA EU-Morocco 2026 Agreement: What Changes for Companies and Researchers with Joint Projects

Key data

Spanish organizations with R&D projects in collaboration with Morocco within the PRIMA program have a regulatory change to review immediately. The Council Decision (EU) 2026/2219, approved on 24 September 2026 and published in the Official Journal of the EU on 5 October, formalizes an Exchange of Notes between the European Union and the Kingdom of Morocco that modifies and completes the scientific and technological cooperation agreement in force between both parties.

The change is not minor: it directly affects Morocco's participation conditions in PRIMA (Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area), the European initiative that finances research and innovation projects in the Mediterranean region. If your organization has or plans to have joint projects with Moroccan partners within this program, the rules of the game have changed.

What does this regulation establish?

The Council Decision approves the conclusion of an Exchange of Notes —a diplomatic instrument for modifying international agreements— between the EU and Morocco. This Exchange modifies and completes the previous scientific and technological cooperation agreement, specifically updating the conditions under which Morocco participates in PRIMA.

The three areas that the regulation identifies as susceptible to change are:

• Eligibility requirements: The conditions that Moroccan partners —and by extension consortia that include them— must meet to participate in PRIMA calls may have varied.
• Financing: The economic conditions of Morocco's participation in the program, including possible national contributions or co-financing rates, may be subject to the new terms.
• Governance: The rules for management and supervision of projects with Moroccan participation may have been updated.

The legal framework supporting this decision is that of Euro-Mediterranean cooperation in science and innovation, now reinforced with this new bilateral instrument. The modification does not repeal the previous agreement, but rather completes and updates it.

Economic and operational impact

The direct impact of this decision is operational and eligibility-related, not immediate economic sanction. However, the consequences of not reviewing the new terms can be significant:

• Ongoing projects: If governance or financing conditions have changed, consortium agreements signed under the previous terms may need to be renegotiated or adapted. Submitting reports or justifications under already superseded conditions can generate problems in audit or payment approval.
• Projects in preparation: Applications being prepared for upcoming PRIMA calls must incorporate the new eligibility requirements for Moroccan partners. An application that does not meet them may be directly rejected.
• Opportunity: The strengthening of the legal framework may open new calls or expand the scope of existing ones, generating additional funding opportunities for Spanish-Moroccan consortia.

Who does it affect?

• Spanish universities with active collaboration agreements with Moroccan academic institutions within PRIMA.
• Public research centers (CSIC, regional R&D centers, technology institutes) participating in PRIMA consortia with partners in Morocco.
• Technology and innovation companies that are part of PRIMA projects as industrial partners alongside Moroccan entities.
• European project managers (project offices, R&D project managers) responsible for coordinating consortia with Moroccan participation.
• Foundations and non-profit entities in the scientific field with active projects in the Mediterranean region under the PRIMA umbrella.

Practical example

A Spanish university coordinates a PRIMA consortium of four partners: two European institutions, a Spanish agri-food technology company and a Moroccan research center. The project was approved under the conditions of the previous EU-Morocco agreement.

With the entry into force of Decision 2026/2219 on 24 September 2026, the coordinating university must verify whether the new eligibility or governance conditions affect the role of the Moroccan partner within the consortium. If, for example, the new rules modify the percentage of financing that a Morocco partner can receive or the audit requirements applicable, the current consortium agreement may need an addendum. Failing to do so in time can compromise the approval of periodic reports and payment of subsequent project installments.

What should companies do now?

1. Identify all active PRIMA projects with Moroccan partners. Make an immediate inventory of ongoing and in-preparation projects that include Moroccan entities as partners or subcontractors.
2. Review the new terms of the modified agreement. Access the full text of Decision 2026/2219 and the Exchange of Notes on EUR-Lex to identify exactly which eligibility, financing and governance conditions have changed.
3. Compare the new terms with current consortium agreements. Detect if any clause of the signed consortium agreement conflicts with the new conditions or needs to be updated.
4. Contact the PRIMA managing body. Consult with the PRIMA Secretariat or the national contact point if ongoing projects require any formal adaptation or official communication.
5. Adapt applications in preparation. Ensure that any proposal being drafted for future PRIMA calls incorporates the new eligibility requirements for Moroccan partners from the outset.
6. Seek legal advice if there are doubts about the impact on existing contracts. If the modification affects contractual commitments already signed with Moroccan partners, consult with a specialist in European project law before making unilateral decisions.

Official source

Consult complete regulation in official source

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/./legal-content/AUTO/?uri=OJ:L_202602219