Morocco considers visa requirements for European citizens in response to EU restrictions
The demand for visas for European citizens wishing to enter Morocco has been put on the table by Moroccan parliamentarians in an attempt to establish a principle of reciprocity in terms of mobility. Khaled Al-Satti and Lobna Alaoui, members of the Moroccan National Union of Workers in the Chamber of Councillors, have asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to consider this measure, arguing that European countries obtain significant income from the fees imposed on Moroccans, while Moroccans can enter the Kingdom without restrictions.
The request comes in a context of growing discontent over the difficulties Moroccans face in obtaining Schengen visas. The ‘visa crisis’ with France in 2022 exposed the discriminatory treatment many applications have received, leading to protests outside the European Union embassy in Rabat. Although the situation has partially improved, Moroccans continue to face delays, high costs and rejections without clear explanation.
According to the Moroccan Coalition of Human Rights Organisations, European consulates continue to apply opaque criteria for visa approval, without offering the possibility of appeal or refunding fees to rejected applicants. This situation has been particularly detrimental for young students, people requiring medical attention and families wishing to travel for leisure. Furthermore, the use of private companies has made the process more expensive and made it more difficult to get appointments.
Recent data from Schengen News reveals that, in the last year, 136,367 visa applications submitted by Moroccan citizens were rejected, at a total cost of 118 million dirhams (approximately 11 million euros). More than half of these applications were processed at Spanish and French embassies and consulates, where the economic impact of the rejections has been significant, especially after the Schengen visa fee was increased from 80 to 90 euros last June.
MP Hanane Atrkine, of the Authenticity and Modernity Party, has raised the need to reimburse the expenses of applicants whose visas are denied, emphasising that the current process represents a financial and psychological burden for many Moroccans. Likewise, the president of the Moroccan League for the Defence of Human Rights, Adel Chikito, has denounced the discriminatory treatment that Moroccans receive in European consulates, despite Morocco's advanced diplomatic position with the EU.
For its part, the European Commission has stated its intention to review its visa strategy with the aim of optimising its use in the areas of migration and foreign relations. However, the proposal of the Moroccan parliamentarians marks a turning point in the country's migration policy, demanding equal treatment and economic benefits similar to those that European countries obtain through their restrictions on Moroccans.
The number of Schengen visa applications has increased significantly year on year, mainly concentrated in the embassies and consulates of Spain and France. In the last recorded period, Spain received 84,499 applications, while France processed a total of 58,310. This trend reflects the growing demand from Moroccans to travel to Europe, despite the difficulties imposed in the visa application process.
The debate on the implementation of a visa for European citizens in Morocco is still open, with the aim of balancing relations and ensuring fair treatment for Moroccan citizens who wish to travel to Europe.