EU Considers Removing Morocco from Travel Greenlist Amid COVID-19 Concerns

According to diplomatic sources, Morocco and Algeria could be removed from the list of authorized countries. The reason is "the lack of reciprocity," a principle dear to the EU. For the moment, Moroccans and Algerians can enter the EU area, but cannot return to their countries. The same applies to European tourists who cannot go on vacation in Algeria or Morocco.

This decision, if confirmed, would not be binding, of course, but it would remain a recommendation from the Commission, as it has done with the United States or Brazil since March 17. For Spain in particular, this recommendation would be a new blow to the tourism sector, when we know that the United Kingdom has recently decided to impose quarantine on those returning from their holidays on Spanish territory.

To recall, the European Commission recommended that Member States open their borders, as of July 1, to citizens of 13 countries, namely: Algeria, Australia, Canada, Georgia, Japan, Montenegro (removed on July 17), Morocco, New Zealand, Rwanda, Serbia (removed on July 17), South Korea, Thailand, Tunisia, Uruguay, and China, subject to confirmation of reciprocity.