EU commends Morocco for its Covid-19 response

The European commission congratulated Morocco on its coronavirus response, which spared the country thousands of deaths and protected its health infrastructure through a mix of lockdown measures and social and economic support.

“Morocco is not only a close neighbor, the country is also a stable and trusted partner that has acted rapidly to contain the spread of the pandemic,” EU neighborhood and enlargement commissioner Olivér Várhelyi said.

Speaking to members of the European parliament, Várhelyi recalled that the EU has decided to redirect 450 million euros in aid to help Morocco mitigate the social and economic repercussions of the pandemic.

Morocco has acted preemptively long before the first case was diagnosed on March 2. It has imposed a nation-wide strict lockdown on March 20 combined with cash-handouts to the needy and financial support to struggling businesses.

The government has put off taxes for businesses and asked banks to make access to financing easier for small enterprises and put off loan payments for individuals and companies.

A special fund was created, at the initiative of King Mohammed VI, with total donations standing at 3.4 billion dollars including 1 billion dollar state contribution.

The industrial fabric has been encouraged to locally make anti-covid equipment including ventilators, masks, infrared thermometers and shields putting Morocco in a very limited list of countries securing self-sufficiency in such key equipment.

Meanwhile, Morocco extended a helping hand to more than 15 African countries sending vital medical aid including 8 million masks, protective gear, sanitizers and medicine and campaigned for multilateralism in responding to coronavirus challenges.