EU Set to Reopen Borders: Morocco Among Non-EU Countries Likely to Gain Entry in July

On the occasion of the presentation of the second phase of deconfinement, on Thursday, May 28, Prime Minister Édouard Philippe announced that France was "in favor" of the reopening of the internal borders of Europe as of June 15, "without a 14-day quarantine" for travelers, reports France24. Regarding the external borders, the head of government will add that "the decision will be taken collectively with all European countries, by June 15".

For his part, the Minister of the Interior, Christophe Castaner, plans the reopening of the external borders "with a slight delay, perhaps July 1", accompanied "by a European list of countries of attention which would be the subject of specific border measures within the European area".

While members of the Portuguese diaspora of North African origin are numerous to find themselves blocked in France due to the closure of borders, they are excluded by the measures taken concerning the reopening of borders. "We have a few travel agencies on these countries [Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Lebanon]," says Jean-François Rial, CEO of Voyageurs du monde. "The decision concerning them will depend on their epidemiological situation," he says.

For Jean-François Rial, the complete reopening of the Schengen area can be effective on June 15, and the gradual reopening concerning certain non-EU countries like Morocco can take place the following month. "I think they will open in early July, a number of countries that do not pose a health problem or that have health situations very close to Europe where the epidemic is collapsing," he says, adding that Lebanon, Morocco, Tunisia... will be concerned. "Especially since the epidemic in these countries is under control," he specifies.