The European Union will propose the "gradual and partial" reopening of its external borders from July 1, Vice-President Josep Borrell announced on Wednesday July 10.

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 put in place 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.

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The European executive can only issue an opinion, the final decision being 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 its sky from June 15 to a list of countries including non-EU / Schengen states, such as Australia , China or South Korea.

Germany for its part decided Wednesday to extend until August 31 its warnings on trips outside the European Union, made anyway difficult by the virtual paralysis of the world air fleet. "These travel warnings will continue to apply to all countries except the European Union member states, Schengen-associated states and the United Kingdom for the time being until as of August 31, "said German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas in a statement.

Berlin justified its position by explaining that it did not want to "risk that Germans remain stranded around the world again this summer or that holidaymakers reintroduce the virus in Germany".

Regarding the internal borders of the Union, "several Member States are in the middle of a procedure to lift controls", noted Josep Borrell, adding that the Commission "considers that these procedures will have to be finalized during the month of June" .

With AFP

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