Spain has excluded Morocco from a list of extra-EU countries that can enter its airspace for commercial and passenger traffic. Spanish authorities evoked reciprocity but observers see the move as a retaliatory measure against Morocco’s sovereign measure to close borders with the two enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla during the pandemic. Spain was one of the world’s most hit countries by the coronavirus, with 439,000 cases and 29,000 deaths. Outside the EU, only Australia, Canada, Georgia, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Thailand, Tunisia, Uruguay and China can operate flights to Spain. The EU has removed Morocco from a safe destination list for non-essential travel due to the pandemic situation.

Source: The North Africa Journal August 30, 2020 12:00 UTC