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Morocco World
4 days ago
- Business
- Morocco World
Bourita: Morocco's Visa Policy Based on Reciprocity, National Interest
Doha – Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita outlined Morocco's visa policy principles during a session at the Chamber of Counselors on Tuesday, emphasizing that the country adopts a sovereign approach based on political, historical, economic, and social considerations. Speaking during the weekly oral questions session, Bourita explained that Morocco's visa policy rests on three fundamental principles: reciprocity, protection of economic and political interests, and flexibility adapted to specific contexts. 'Each country is free to establish its own rules,' Bourita stated as he addressed questions about Morocco's e-visa system. He noted that the cost and security features of the Moroccan e-visa have evolved in line with international standards. The minister mentioned that visa prices increased last month, with e-visa platforms charging additional fees for expedited processing, such as obtaining an e-visa within 24 hours. Regarding Schengen visas, Bourita provided specific figures, reporting that European Union countries issued approximately 610,000 visas to Moroccan citizens in 2024, with a rejection rate of about 20%. France alone granted 283,000 visas to Moroccans, representing a 17% increase compared to the previous year. According to the minister, this represents the highest number of visas France has issued to any non-OECD country. Recent data shows Morocco now ranks fourth globally for Schengen visa applications in 2024, following only China, India, and Turkey. According to SchengenVisaInfo, 11,716,723 Schengen visa applications were submitted to EU countries in 2024, marking a 13.5% increase compared to the previous year, though still below pre-pandemic levels of nearly 17 million in 2019. Read also: Morocco Signed 7,500 International Agreements, Two-Thirds Under King Mohammed VI Bourita acknowledged challenges Moroccan citizens face when applying for Schengen visas, warning against certain practices by diplomatic representations or intermediaries that 'undermine the dignity of Moroccan citizens.' He affirmed that the country cannot tolerate such behaviors and reserves the right to respond accordingly. The black market for visa appointments has become a serious issue for Moroccan applicants. Intermediaries have been exploiting online appointment systems, using advanced software to snatch slots and resell them at prices reaching up to MAD 10,000 (around $1,000). The minister also addressed complaints handling, revealing that 1,345 requests and complaints were processed in 2024 through the national complaints portal ' These were categorized into four main types: consular matters, civil status requests, criminal issues, and social concerns. Bourita explained that complaints falling within the ministry's direct jurisdiction are handled internally, while others are forwarded to relevant departments or the Hassan II Foundation for Moroccans Residing Abroad. Close coordination with the Mediator institution ensures proper follow-up of cases. Visa injustice and diaspora potential dominate policy talks The discussion of Morocco's visa policy comes amid growing parliamentary pressure to implement reciprocal measures against European countries. In March, parliamentarians Khalid Es-Satte and Loubna Alaoui requested that the Foreign Ministry consider imposing visa requirements on European citizens entering Morocco, arguing that European countries generate significant revenue from fees charged to Moroccans while Europeans can enter the country without restrictions. This proposal emerged amid frustration over difficulties Moroccans face when applying for Schengen visas. In 2023, Moroccans lost MAD 118 million ($11.8 million) due to rejected Schengen visa applications, with a total of 136,367 refusals. More than half were processed by Spanish and French embassies and consulates. Hanane Atarguine, a deputy from the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM), has advocated for reimbursing fees to applicants whose visas are denied, pointing to the financial and psychological burden the current process places on many Moroccans. In contrast to potential reciprocal measures against European countries, Morocco has demonstrated restraint regarding Algeria's unilateral decision to reimpose visa requirements on Moroccan citizens in September 2024. Algeria claimed the decision was necessary to combat 'organized crime networks, drug and human trafficking, illegal immigration, and espionage,' allegedly conducted by Morocco—accusations made without supporting evidence. When Morocco imposed visas on Algerians in 1994 following a hotel bombing in Marrakech, Algeria reciprocated. Morocco unilaterally lifted the requirement for Algerians in 2004, with Algeria following suit for Moroccans in 2005. Despite Algeria's recent reimposition of visa requirements on Moroccans, Morocco has chosen not to respond in kind for Algerian citizens. As the visa policy debate continues, Bourita stressed the need to better leverage the potential of Moroccan expatriates, particularly through creating a dedicated database of Moroccan talents abroad. He noted that investments from the Moroccan diaspora, estimated at 6 million people across more than 100 countries (with 80% concentrated in six European countries), represent only about 10% of their remittances. This figure must be increased to make these competencies a true driver of national development, Bourita concluded. Tags: Nasser BouritaVisas
Morocco World
27-05-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
Akhannouch: Morocco Ranks 2nd in Africa with 2% of GDP on Social Aid
Doha – Morocco has allocated MAD 26.5 billion ($2.65 billion) for the Direct Social Aid program in 2025. The government aims to increase this budget to MAD 29 billion ($2.9 billion) by 2026. Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch announced these figures Tuesday at the Chamber of Counselors. Morocco now ranks second in Africa for social spending, dedicating about 2% of its GDP to finance this program. The initiative targets 4 million families, representing approximately 60% of households not covered by family allowance schemes. The program provides monthly aid ranging from MAD 500 ($50) to MAD 1,200 ($120) based on family composition and circumstances. Since launching the digital platform ' in December 2023, around 4 million households have benefited from the program. These 4 million households represent nearly 12 million beneficiaries. Of these families, 3.2 million also receive Mandatory Health Insurance (AMO) services. More than 2.4 million households include children, while about 1.5 million have no children. Social transformation takes major leap Over 5.5 million children now receive direct aid through the program. Additionally, more than one million people aged over 60 receive monthly social assistance in the form of lump-sum subsidies. These subsidies aim to preserve the dignity of the elderly, strengthen their purchasing power, and reduce risks associated with aging. The prime minister noted that the government allocated MAD 25 billion ($2.5 billion) to the program for 2024. The government has also strengthened efforts against school dropout rates. About 1.8 million families with 3.1 million students receive exceptional aid. This support amounts to MAD 200 ($20) for primary and middle school, and MAD 300 ($30) for high school, limited to six children per family. Akhannouch revealed that 61% of beneficiaries come from rural areas. This approach aligns with the government's commitment to promoting equal opportunities, especially for rural girls. Currently, 75% of children aged 6 to 20 are covered by school aid. The government has also implemented a birth premium program. Families receive MAD 2,000 ($200) for the first child and MAD 1,000 ($100) for the second. A crucial extension of social coverage By the end of January, 42,800 families had benefited from this initiative. The program aims to improve maternal and child health, strengthen vaccination, and support healthy childhood. Support for widows has seen unprecedented progress. More than 420,000 widows currently benefit from aid, compared to only 75,000 at the end of 2021. Among them, 330,000 have no children, marking a major extension of social coverage. Nearly 87,000 widows care for 97,000 orphaned children, with support expected to reach MAD 400 ($40) per schooled child by 2026. The Mandatory Health Insurance now covers all Moroccan families. The government has integrated more than 4 million vulnerable households into a non-contributory system. These families receive free healthcare and hospitalization in public health facilities. The state ensures the sustainability of this system by covering these families' contributions, amounting to about MAD 9.5 billion ($950 million) annually. Since the launch of this system until March, more than 14 million medical files have been registered with the CNSS agency. These include over 300,000 related to chronic or costly diseases. Nearly 12 million cases have been processed, with a total amount exceeding MAD 17 billion ($1.7 billion). Health insurance in Morocco has made decisive progress with the massive integration of non-salaried and independent workers. Through the adoption of 28 implementing decrees, nearly 3.5 million people now benefit from medical coverage adapted to their income. By April, more than 400 million cases had been filed, with an average of 2,255 per day. Some 360,000 cases have already been processed, for an amount of nearly MAD 1 billion ($100 million). Read also: Education Reform: Akhannouch Reviews Achievements, Charts Path Forward
Morocco World
14-05-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
Moroccan Government Spends Over $10 Billion to Shield Citizens from Rising Costs
Rabat – Between 2022 and 2025, Morocco allocated more than MAD 100 billion ($10 billion) to subsidize basic goods, said Minister of Economy and Finance Nadia Fettah during a Tuesday session at the Chamber of Counselors. The intervention came in response to concerns raised by the Haraki group about consumer protection amid global economic turbulence and the spiking inflation that struck Morocco in recent years. Fettah acknowledged inflation's weight on Moroccan households and said the government took early steps to ease that pressure. Yet, the problem persists. Inflation in Morocco is estimated to have reached 2.2% in the first quarter of 2025, up sharply from 0.7% just three months earlier, according to figures released by the High Commission for Planning (HCP). The HCP points to a 3.7% increase in food prices and a 1.1% rise in non-food costs as the main drivers behind this surge. One of the most visible efforts, according to the minister, involved monitoring prices at local markets. Since 2022, inspection teams visited roughly 350,000 sales points across the country, only to find over 15,000 violations. These operations, she explained, form part of a wider push to ensure fairness in the market and make sure families can afford daily essentials. In parallel, the government maintained stable prices for electricity and water, two sectors that have seen global increases. Fettah also referred to emergency programs aimed at easing the effects of drought, particularly in rural areas where livelihoods depend on agriculture. Rather than passing rising global costs onto citizens, Fettah said Morocco chose another path. The government cut VAT on key products and offered targeted support to supply chains to avoid shortages. The minister also linked these efforts to broader economic policies, including raising the minimum wage through negotiations with unions and employers. Moreover, Fettah underlined that the government's role does not end at financial assistance. It must also stay present, adjust to changing conditions, and ensure that ongoing reforms and investments do not lose momentum. The minister concluded by reaffirming the government's intention to strike a balance between economic reform and social stability, without letting Moroccan households bear the brunt of global instability. While the government's efforts to curb inflation and support households help mitigate the issue, many families continue to struggle to make ends meet. Staples are still expensive for large segments of the population, and despite subsidies and wage adjustments, purchasing power has not fully recovered. For many Moroccans, the gap between official measures and daily reality still feels too wide. Tags: economyfood pricesinflationMorococ inflationrising costs
Morocco World
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Morocco World
Colombian Congress Recommits to Supporting Morocco's Territorial Integrity
Doha – Colombian lawmakers have firmly recommitted to backing Morocco's territorial integrity, openly defying their government's stance on the Western Sahara issue. During the 3rd South-South Parliamentary Dialogue Forum held Monday in Rabat, Colombian Congress President Efraín José Cepeda Sarabia made his position clear. 'I want to reaffirm that Parliament, as the legitimate representative of the Colombian people, supports Morocco's sovereignty and territorial integrity and rejects the ill-advised position of the Colombian government,' Cepeda declared at the forum hosted by Morocco's Chamber of Counselors. The congress president explicitly rejected his government's recognition of the Polisario Front, noting that Colombia's senate had already adopted two motions affirming Morocco's legitimate and sovereign right over its Sahara region. Cepeda, who also serves as first vice-president of the Christian Democratic Organization of America, pledged continued legislative support for Morocco, which he described as Colombia's 'ally.' He recalled the establishment of a Morocco-Colombia parliamentary friendship group in the senate, designed to strengthen 'strategic' cooperation between both countries' legislative bodies. Colombia's congressional resistance began in October 2022, when President Gustavo Petro made the controversial decision in August to revive a 1985 joint statement with the separatist group. Shortly after, 62 out of 108 senators voted against restoring diplomatic ties with Polisario. The trend of legislative support strengthened in November 2023, when 65 out of 105 senators approved a motion backing Morocco's territorial integrity. In that document, senators categorically distanced themselves from President Petro's position, affirming it 'in no way represents the position of Colombians towards Morocco.' This latest stance reinforces a position Colombian lawmakers have maintained since last February, when Cepeda met with Moroccan Ambassador Farida Loudaya. During that encounter, he revealed that President Gustavo Petro's recognition of the separatist group faced overwhelming opposition. 'That recognition was rejected by more than seventy percent of the Senate of the Republic,' Cepeda stated at the February meeting. Colombian political leaders are increasingly viewing Morocco as a strategic partner in Africa and the Arab world, with many pointing to the detrimental impact of the diplomatic rift on cooperation in crucial sectors like agriculture, renewable energy, and tourism. The parliamentary pushback reflects broader regional diplomatic shifts, as several South American nations have withdrawn support for the separatist group. Ecuador suspended recognition of the self-proclaimed 'SADR' in October 2024, with Panama following suit the next month. Meanwhile, bilateral trade between Morocco and Colombia reached $350 million in 2022, with Colombia exporting coal, coffee, and chemical products while Morocco supplied fertilizers and agricultural products to the Colombian market. The two-day forum in Rabat serves as a platform to showcase investment opportunities and promote South-South cooperation to enhance regional integration and expand trade possibilities. Tags: Moroccan Territorial IntegrityMorocco ColombiaWestern sahara
Morocco World
22-02-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
What's on Gérard Larcher's Agenda for His 3-Day Morocco Visit?
Doha – The French Senate confirmed in a press release yesterday what Moroccan newspapers have been reporting over the past few days about Senate President Gérard Larcher's upcoming official visit to Morocco on February 23-26. This visit comes at a time when Franco-Moroccan relations are witnessing unprecedented momentum, especially this month. The period has seen Culture Minister Rachida Dati complete a two-day visit earlier this week where she signed ten cultural cooperation agreements and visited Rabat, Tarfaya, Laayoune, and Dakhla. Elsewhere, Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch today inaugurated Morocco's 476-square-meter pavilion as the first foreign guest of honor at the Paris International Agricultural Show. Larcher will be accompanied by a high-level delegation including Christian Cambon, President of the France-Morocco friendship group, Cédric Perrin, President of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Hervé Marseille and Corinne Féret, both Vice-presidents of the France-Morocco friendship group. The detailed program begins Sunday afternoon with Larcher's arrival at Rabat-Salé airport, where he will be welcomed by Mohamed Ould Errachid, President of the Chamber of Counselors. Read also: Morocco, France Strengthen Parliamentary Cooperation with New Agreement The evening includes a meeting with representatives of the French community in Morocco. Monday's agenda starts at 9:30 a.m. with a ceremony at the Mohammed V Mausoleum, followed by a series of high-level meetings with Moroccan officials, including the President of the Chamber of Counselors, the Vice-president of the House of Representatives, Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, and Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch. The day will conclude with a meeting with Khalihenna Ould Errachid, President of the Royal Advisory Council for Saharan Affairs, followed by an evening reception in Laayoune. The highlight of the visit comes on Tuesday, February 25, when Larcher will travel to the Laayoune-Sakia El Hamra region, marking a further confirmation of France's new position regarding Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara. The Senate President will meet with local authorities and visit several socio-economic projects, including the new University Hospital Center and other infrastructure developments in the region. The visit, organized at the invitation of Chamber of Counselors President Mohamed Ould Errachid, aims to strengthen interparliamentary cooperation and friendship ties between France and Morocco, according to the Senate's press release.
