China and Morocco may remain outside the list of third-countries the residents of which can enter the territory of Spain, though both of them have been ranked as epidemiologically ‘safe’ by the EU Council.
Despite a recommendation of the EU Council to all EU and Schengen Area Member States to open borders to 15 third-countries ranked as safe amid the Coronavirus, among which also China and Morocco, Spain has refused to open borders to the latter in a reciprocity move, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.
While borders will open to the other 13, countries in the list – which are Algeria, Australia, Canada, Georgia, Japan, Montenegro, New Zealand, Rwanda, Serbia, South Korea, Thailand, Tunisia and Uruguay – Spain will remain firm on its restrictions with Morocco and China.
According to governmental spokesperson Maria Jesus Montero borders “will be opened when these states allow entry into their territories” of the Spanish residents.
Her statements refer to a previous decision of Morocco to keep its borders closed at least until July 10, due to the existing state of alarm, and China’s decision to ban Europeans from entering its territory still.
“When Morocco sees fit, we will collaborate with them to establish controls so this transfer of thousands of people does not become a health risk,” Montero said during a press conference after the weekly cabinet meeting, noting that Spain will only open its borders with Morocco if there is a reciprocal agreement to let people travelling via Spain enter the North African country.
The decision of the Spanish authorities regarding Morocco contradicts a previous statement of the President of the Autonomous City of Melilla, Eduardo de Castro who announced during a press briefing sometime around June 20, that Moroccans would be eligible to enter Spain starting from July 1.
According to President De Castro, the head of the Spanish government, Pedro Sanchez, had informed him that Spain had decided to reopen borders for Morocco on July 1, during a virtual meeting.
While the EU has recommended to the Member States to reopen borders on July 1, Spain is planning to begin lifting restrictions for the nationals of 13 countries at least on July 2 or 3.
Spain Exempts New Categories of Third Country Residents from Entry Restrictions
Alongside with the reopening of borders for the residents of the 13 abovementioned third countries for non-essential purposes, Spain has also added new categories to its list of travellers exempt from the entry ban.
In line with the EU Commission’s recommendation of June 11, currently, the following categories are permitted to freely enter the territory of Spain are as follows.
- EU and Schengen citizens
- Residence permits or long-stay visa holders, issued by any of the EU or Schengen Members
- Those who study in the Member States or the Schengen Associated States and who have the corresponding permit or visa
- Highly qualified workers whose work is necessary and cannot be carried out remotely or be postponed
- Cross-border workers
- Health professionals, including health researchers, and elderly care professionals who go to or return from exercising their work activity
- Personnel dedicated to the transport of goods in the exercise of their work activity, including the crew of ships.
- Diplomatic, consular, international, military, civil protection and humanitarian organizations personnel, in the exercise of their functions
- People travelling for imperative family reasons duly accredited
- Persons who show proof of reasons of force majeure or situation of need, or whose entry is allowed for humanitarian reasons
