Spain Extends Border Closure with Morocco Amid Rising COVID-19 Cases

According to the new order of the Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, the borders remain closed to all third countries except the safe countries of the European Union. Due to the increase in infections, Morocco had been removed from this list by the European Union in August.

Europe only proposes to make recommendations regarding these safe countries. However, in the name of sovereignty, each member country of the area is responsible for the tourists it welcomes on its territory. This measure has allowed Spain to sort through the countries validated by the European Union depending on their serological situation. In this regard, the land borders with Ceuta and Melilla remain closed until the end of November.

This extension of the border closure is not a first. The Iberian neighbor had announced, at the beginning of October, the maintenance of the closure of its borders until October 31.