Belgium Strongly Discourages Travel to Morocco Amid COVID-19 Concerns

In a press release, Philippe Goffin, Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs, indicates that this government decision is part of its desire for greater European coordination. He specifies that quarantine and testing remain mandatory for travelers returning from red zones. The abandonment of travel bans in red zones in favor of strictly discouraging travel amounts to the formulation of travel advice as it existed before the Covid-19 crisis, according to the minister’s office.

Mr. Goffin informed his colleagues of the Belgian decision on Monday during the Foreign Affairs Council. "Until now, we were the only European country to prohibit and not discourage travel to red zones. At the European level, under the impetus of Belgium in particular, work has been underway for several weeks to develop a coordinated system of travel advice," explains the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

"Following a European-level analysis, a color-coded system has been welcomed by the Member States," says the Belgian foreign minister, stressing that there is still a lot to be done. He is convinced that this replacement of travel bans in red zones by strictly discouraging travel in red zones is an important step towards real coordination.