The European Commission will publish its proposals for a "gradual and partial" lifting of travel restrictions at the EU's external borders from July 1 this week, Vice President Josep Borrell announced on Wednesday. It would be a question of lifting the restrictions with certain third countries by taking into account "a certain number of principles and criteria" and by basing itself on a "common approach" between member states, he explained.
The ban on non-essential travel to the EU, currently in force until June 15, was implemented on March 17 in a coordinated fashion between member states and the European Commission to fight the spread of the pandemic again. coronavirus, and extended twice. At the end of last week, the 27 interior ministers agreed to coordinate for this gradual reopening to travelers from countries outside the Schengen area and the EU.
Final decision to member states
The European executive can only deliver an opinion, the final decision is up to each member state. Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson said last week that not all countries agree on the criteria to be considered for reopening. Greece for example, whose economy depends largely on tourism, has already announced that it will reopen from June 15 its sky to a list of countries including non-EU / Schengen states, such as Australia , China or South Korea.
Regarding the internal borders of the Union, "several member states are in the process of lifting controls", noted Josep Borrell, adding that the Commission "considers that these procedures should be finalized during the month of June" .
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