the European Commission has published recommendations on how the EU countries carefully and consistently open the borders and save at least part of the nearly 200 billion euros that Europe had earned in the year on tourism. The Europeans — and those who want to come to Europe, there is still hope in this summer to return to the beaches and hotels.
“the Coming months should not be lost for a thriving European tourism ecosystems (…) Summer in Europe is the most important season for the tourism industry: it brings in an average of 190 billion euros,” — stated in the recommendations of the European Commission that it has sent to EU countries and published on its website on may 13.
“as soon as members EU managed to contain the spread of the virus, the continuous limitation of freedom of movement should be replaced by more focused measures” — suggested by the European Commission.
As the Executive authority of the EU, the countries of the Union could start to open for the citizens to each other “regions with similar epidemiological situation” — that is, for example, any land of Germany, where the spread of the coronavirus is stopped, will be open for visits all regions of the European Union who have achieved the same success in the fight against the pandemic.
Map of the spread of coronavirus in the regions is the European centre for prevention and control of diseases, and the Commission proposes to focus on this information.
It is important to point Brussels — the European Commission proposes to open up regions and countries to visit all the citizens and residents of all the relevant requirements of the regions, and not do it on the basis of bilateral or regional treaties.
Though the European Commission and talks about the importance of the summer tourist season, it does not call directly on the EU to open in July or August — it only offers to act in concert.
But even such cautious recommendations of the EU may not listen anyway, now Europe is a patchwork of diverse border regimes imposed on a unilateral, bilateral or regional basis. While in that respect nothing has changed: the opening of borders, the EU also basically agree with his immediate neighbors.
In March, when the EU and the Schengen area had closed its borders from the coronavirus, they did it, each in itself: the Schengen rules allow it in emergency situations. The European Commission then made to the countries of the Union retroactively accepted a common decision on the closure of borders, but these were mostly symbolic, intended to demonstrate that the EU continue one.
the Economies of many European countries before the pandemic d��willingly heavily dependent on tourism: Cyprus, Croatia and Greece, he gave more than 20% of GDP, in Portugal — 19%, Spain 15%, Italy 13%, France and Germany — about 10%.
For residents of third countries, including Russia and Ukraine, no good news yet: recommendations of the European Commission relate to the opening of the borders only to nationals and residents of countries of the European economic community (EU plus Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein), the countries of the EEC and if you think about open borders, it’s basically just yet for its European neighbors.
besides Russia, for example, itself closed the border on entry for foreigners and to travel for Russians, at least until June 1, and it is likely that this ban will be extended.
Many European countries are now beginning to ease quarantine measures within its borders, but would impose a mandatory two-week quarantine of arriving foreigners, which, of course, excludes the possibility of tourist trips.
Optimistic all in Europe, yet is configured to Greece, she hopes to begin taking tourists from July 1. However, not all, but those who before boarding the plane to present a certificate of absence of or presence of coronavirus antibodies. Prime Minister the Kyriakos Mitsotakis, speaking about the plans of the TV company si-EN-EN, suggested that at least initially due precautions in the country will be able to come mostly those tourists who are willing to pay a lot, — those, for example, that rest on the yacht.
Immediately after the publication of the proposals of the European Commission official representative of the Greek government Stelios Petsas said that Greece welcomes them — especially because, according to Picasa to have taken on Board many of the suggestions themselves as Athens.
According to the Greek press, the government, like the Commission, considers that the opening of borders should not be discrimination based on nationality; Greece offers to all the tourists been tested for coronavirus or antibodies not earlier than three days before the trip.
in General Greece would like the EU opened the borders between them before 15 June.
Cyprus has stopped passenger flights with the world — until 17 may. Foreigners are not allowed, and the citizens of Cyprus and holders of a residence permit arriving due boundaries, are obliged to sit on a two-week quarantine.
Spain in may, gradually, in four stages, the output of a rigid quarantine, and hopes to finish this way — if the coronavirus will not strike again — by the end of June. At the same time for all arrivals due boundaries foreigners here introduced a two-week quarantine, and this measure is likely to act at least until the end of June, so returned��and tourists of speech does not go yet.
Italy, the Minister of culture and tourism Dario Franceschini, she invited other EU countries to coordinate the opening of the borders, and is also engaged in bilateral negotiations with the countries before they bring in the most tourists. Franceschini is confident that Italy will be able to start to let tourists this year, but when it is, Refine until you can.
A neighbours EU agreed to open borders among themselves, without the participation of Brussels.
So, the three Baltic States (Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia) from 15 may to fully open its borders to citizens each other and negotiate about the same with the closest neighbours, Finland and Poland.
Czech Republic hopes to open the border with neighboring Austria, Germany, Slovakia and Poland in July and is about negotiating. The entrance of foreigners in the Czech Republic are prohibited until June 13, and citizens of the Czech Republic, returning due boundaries must either submit the certificate about absence of coronavirus, or to sit on a two-week quarantine.
Negotiations on the withdrawal of control posts at the borders store and the three Benelux countries — Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg.
Britain did not close the border for anyone, but end of may is going to introduce a two-week quarantine for all arriving — with the exception of citizens of Ireland and France.
Brussels has urged Britons not to discriminate against other EU citizens: the rules for all of them, from the point of view of Brussels, should be the same.
