The European Union’s executive Commission has proposed a gradual lifting of borders in an attempt to kick-start a tourist industry hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic. “Our message is we will have a tourist season this summer,” said economic affairs commissioner Paolo Gentiloni, “even if it’s with security measures and limitations.”
Borders closed across the EU, including the border-free Schengen zone. But states are starting to reopen them. Austria and Germany have become the latest EU countries to agree to remove travel restrictions.
From Friday there will be random checks at border crossings and then on 15 June free movement should resume. “We want to make people’s everyday lives easier and take another step towards more normality,” said Chancellor Sebastian Kurz.
The European Commission said its guidance was based on the principles of safety and non-discrimination. Tourism provided almost 10% of Europe’s economic output and millions of jobs across the 27 member states relied on it.
Commission Vice-President Margrethe Vestager said no-one should travel if they felt sick or experienced symptoms. She said there were four areas vital to enable the safe return of travel and tourism – travel, borders, health and vouchers.
The EU is keen to get countries in the EU and the Schengen zone working together, as many are moving at a different pace in lifting their lockdowns.
Some countries have already imposed quarantine measures on travellers. From Friday, arrivals in Spain will have to go into quarantine for 14 days.
The UK, which has left the EU but still operates under its rules this year, plans to impose a 14-day quarantine on arrivals by air. However, it has agreed bilateral travel arrangements with France and Ireland that mean there would be no quarantine involved. Beaches in France’s north-western Brittany region began reopening to visitors on Wednesday but under tight restrictions.
Source: BBC
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