• Tourism, Austria allows Germans and Swiss to arrive in Italy
  • Austria, Kurz: "We will not open to those who do not have the situation under control"

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03 June 2020Austria reopens its borders to all neighboring countries, except Italy, starting on Friday. This was announced by the Minister of Health in Vienna, Rudolf Anschober, specifying not to exclude the possibility of a reopening also to Italy from mid-June, when all EU countries should reopen their internal borders.

"A differentiation on a regional basis seems a viable option," the minister said in a reference to the reopening of the borders with Italy, adding that contacts are underway with the government of Rome. As of Friday, there will be no more checks at the borders between Austria and Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Switzerland and Liechtenstein and quarantine and buffer will no longer be necessary for those returns to Austria.

The Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg said that the government has decided to move up 15 to 5 June the easing of travel restrictions to move in coordination with Germany, which today approved the revocation Lookout travel to 29 European countries starting from June 15th. Iceland, Switzerland and Liechtenstein will join the 26 EU partners, while the fourth non-EU Schengen country, Norway, will see the prolonged alert beyond 15.

EU: "Austria does not discriminate on a national basis"
"We have already answered this question yesterday , in general we do not comment on specific measures taken by Member States, but we have adopted guidelines and one of the important principles we have announced is that of non-discrimination on the basis of nationality ". He says a spokesman for the European Commission referring to Austria's decision not to open the borders with Italy. 
"We need to ensure that the regions in a similar epidemiological situation derive benefit from the same treatment," continued portavoce.La EU recalls that the limitation of movement within EU borders "continue intensive discussions, several meetings are planned in this week to decide the next steps. Hopefully the countries will have the opportunity to discuss this in depth and the next steps can be taken. The Commission needs a coordinated approach. "

Zaia: "I hope you solve with Austria"
On the issue of borders "I hope it pays will be resolved with Austria where the group, including parliamentarians, the 'Friends of Italy' favor re-opening" was born. Luca Zaia, Governor of Veneto said so. "It is a favorable element - added Zaia - which goes hand in hand with the fact that Austria has a turnover of 23 billion euros due to Italian activities". "Keeping this closure does not help - he underlined - so I hope that Austria will also repent on its decisions and I imagine that we will have some news in the next few hours".