In a move that signalled the ever-growing ties between Morocco and the European Union, the EU Commission’s Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations announced on September 15 that the European Commission will now recognize COVID-19 certificates issued by Morocco’s health authorities.
The decision to include Morocco on Brussels’ list of countries that are incorporated into Europe’s green pass system – a mechanism that streamlines and eases the travel process for those who have been vaccinated or who test negative for COVID-19 – marks the first time that an African nation will have its coronavirus vaccination schemes and test result documents accepted by the EU.
The decision establishes “the equivalence, for the purpose of facilitating the right of free movement within the European Union, of COVID-19 certificates issued by the Kingdom of Morocco to the certificates issued in accordance with the EU Regulation 2021/953 of the European Parliament and of the Council,” the announcement said.
Morocco is now considered part of the EU’s legal framework that establishes the legitimacy of foreign documents that intend to provide information about travellers’ COVID-19 status.
In the wake of Brussels’ decision, Rabat has said that it will recognize the EU’s certified documents on a reciprocal basis. This will allow European travellers to enter Morocco with their own digital certificates.
Also included in the EU’s announcement was a decision to include Albania, Andorra, the Faroe Islands, Israel, Monaco, and Panama – alongside Morocco – on the European Union’s list of those who can enter the bloc.
“As a result, the seven countries and territories will be connected to the EU’s system, and the COVID certificates they issue will be accepted in the EU under the same conditions as EU Digital COVID Certificates,” the Directorate-General said in a press release.
The digital certificate is issued to those who are fully vaccinated, those who have recovered from the virus in the past 180 days, as well as to those who test negative for COVID-19.
