(Update) In a decision published in the Official Journal of the European Union on September 15th, the EU Commission recognizes the vaccination pass issued in Morocco, allowing beneficiaries of the Moroccan vaccination campaign to travel without restriction in Europe. This decision concerns Moroccans, European citizens vaccinated in Morocco, and nationals of different countries vaccinated in Morocco and legally residing in Europe.
The European Commission decided on Wednesday, September 15th, to establish the equivalence of Covid-19 certificates issued by Morocco with those of the European Union (EU). In a decision dated September 14th and published this Wednesday in the Official Journal of the European Union, the Commission states that “the Covid-19 vaccination and test certificates issued by the Kingdom of Morocco in accordance with the GSC’Cov system are considered equivalent to those issued in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2021/953.”
Only African countries concerned
According to the MAP agency, the kingdom of Morocco would be so far the only African and Arab country to have such a status within the European Union. This is a recognition of the Moroccan vaccine pass, as well as its QR Code.
This decision also indicates that the vaccines administered in the Moroccan vaccination campaign would benefit from equivalence. However, this decision will apply “to the Covid-19 vaccination and test certificates issued by the Kingdom of Morocco to citizens of the Union and their family members,” says the document signed by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
“Similarly, on the basis of the Regulation, these equivalence findings should also apply to the vaccination and test certificates for Covid-19 issued by the Kingdom of Morocco to third-country nationals legally staying or residing in the territory of the Member States under the conditions provided for in the said Regulation.”
The vaccines to benefit from this equivalence are Comirnaty (Pfizer-Biontech), Janssen (Johnson&Johnson), Vaxzevria (AstraZeneca), and Sinopharm’s BIBP vaccine. To date, the Chinese-designed vaccine has not been recognized by European authorities, although it is recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO).
No recognition of Sinopharm by France
According to a source in the European Union delegation in Morocco, however, this announcement does not mean that all EU member countries recognize all vaccines administered in Morocco. For example, the Sinopharm vaccine is recognized in Spain but not in France.
A Moroccan or foreign national vaccinated with the Chinese vaccine who wishes to travel to a European country that does not recognize the vaccine will still have to meet the entry requirements of that territory, such as a negative PCR test.
The Brussels decision follows technical tests conducted by the European Commission, which showed that the Covid-19 vaccination and test certificates are issued by Morocco in accordance with the SGC’Cov system, which is interoperable with the trust framework established by Regulation (EU) 2021/953 and which allows for verification of their authenticity, validity, and integrity.
According to the same decision, Morocco has informed the European Commission that it accepts vaccination, test, and recovery certificates issued by EU Member States and European Economic Area (EEA) countries.
