The treaty between the two countries that makes such flights possible expired last week and negotiations about an extension are still ongoing, according to Foreign Affairs. Such treaties are standard with countries where direct flights go or come from, Foreign Affairs emphasizes. The expiry of the treaty is not directly related to the entry ban that the Dutch cabinet announced on Tuesday for travelers from Morocco, said a spokesman.

Last Thursday, Minister of Justice Ferdinand Grapperhaus reported to the Lower House that travelers from Morocco will be banned in the Netherlands. In the North African country, the number of corona cases has recently increased significantly. An earlier entry ban for travelers from Morocco was put on July 1 abolished. Due to existing restrictive measures in Morocco, it was already impossible for Moroccans in Morocco to leave the country.

"Unfortunately, the health situation in Morocco has deteriorated to such an extent that the EU member states decided on August 7 to remove this country from the list of countries for which the entry ban can be lifted in order to protect public health in the EU," writes Grapperhaus.

Member states are free to know when they will impose the entry ban. The minister says that the decision was taken based on “a risk assessment with criteria that are as objective as possible about the health situation in Morocco and the measures applicable there".

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