Morocco could restrict EU visas in ongoing row
Morocco could restrict EU citizens from entering the country as they look at imposing new requirements on visas, according to Atalayar on March 5th.
Moroccan parliamentarians are hoping to establish a reciprocal state of affairs regarding mobility between the EU and Morocco.
Two members of the Moroccan National Union of Workers (MNUW), Khaled Al-Satti and Lobna Alaoui, have requested that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs consider the measure.
They argue that EU countries significantly economically benefit from fees imposed on Moroccan visas while EU citizens can enter Morocco without restrictions.
The latest request from members of the MNUW comes in the wake of growing discontent at the fact that Moroccans are facing serious challenges in obtaining Schengen area visas.
In 2022, Morocco suffered a visa crisis with France as Rabat cast accusations of ‘opaqueness’ in the clarity of the visa process.
Moroccan citizens were left with delays, high costs and unexplained rejections at the end of their application process.
The crisis led to protests outside the EU embassy in Rabat.
However, in 2023 it looked as if the EU and Morocco may slowly be coming to a resolution over the issue of visas and ‘irregular migration’.
Maghrebi reported on July 18th 2023 that the EU hoped to thrash out a deal with Morocco in order to regulate the process further
However, more than 18 months later, the crisis is still gong on.
According to the Moroccan Coalition of Human Rights Organisations, the EU consulate continues to be ‘opaque’ in their criterion for offering visa approval and applicants continue to be rejected without explanation.
Data released by Schengen News reports that Moroccan citizens had 136,367 visa applications rejected last year, with an accumulated cost of nearly €11 million.
The cost of the Schengen visa was increased from €80 to €90 last year, placing a further financial burden on applicants.
Moroccan politicians have stressed the need to at the very least reimburse rejected applicants who have spent time and money only to be rejected without explanation.
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