(Fighting against New Coronary Pneumonia) EU continues to restrict “non-essential travel” to Europe
China News Agency, Brussels, May 8 (Reporter De Yongjian) The EU announced on the 8th that because the new coronary pneumonia outbreak has not stabilized in Europe and the world, the EU decided to continue to restrict "non-essential travel" to Europe, which will begin in mid-March this year. The implementation of the "block coalition order" was extended to June 15.
The European Commission said in an announcement that although some EU member states and Schengen area members are currently deregulating, the new coronary pneumonia epidemic is still unstable in Europe and the world. In this case, it is necessary for the EU to continue to control external borders. Reduce the risk of epidemic spread caused by travel to Europe.
To this end, the European Commission has initiated 26 EU member states (except Ireland) and 4 non-EU member states of Switzerland, Iceland, Norway, and Liechtenstein, which are part of the Schengen area, to continue unified action and impose restrictions on “non-essential travel” to Europe until June After 15 days, the EU will assess the evolution of the epidemic.
On March 16 this year, when the epidemic situation in several member countries was extremely severe, the European Commission proposed to implement a 30-day restriction on “non-essential travel” to Europe; the initiative on March 17 was unanimously approved by the leaders of the EU member states. Afterwards, it began to "seal the alliance."
On April 8th, as the number of new cases and deaths in the EU continued to rise, and the epidemic situation outside the EU continued to develop, especially for some "popular countries" traveling to Europe, the EU decided to continue to restrict "non-essential travel" to Europe. The "Blocking Order" originally scheduled to expire on April 15 was extended to May 15.
After the extension of the "blocking order" on May 8, the European Commission stated in the announcement that the EU would lift the ban in stages in the future, that is, first of all, gradually lift the control of the EU's internal borders and resume the flow of people between EU member states and Schengen area member states. Afterwards, the "Blocking Order" was stopped and the external border control was gradually lifted.
Earlier, the European Commission stated that since the implementation of the "blocking order", passenger transport to Europe by air, railway, road and ferry has been suspended, and the passenger traffic volume is almost zero. Officials, military personnel, humanitarian rescuers, medical personnel, health experts, cargo transport personnel, seasonal agricultural workers, etc. are "exempt groups", foreign residents of EU member states, long-term visa holders, citizens of EU member states Family members or persons who must travel to Europe for family reasons can also enter the EU member states. (Finish)