June 4, Austria opened its borders to seven countries of the European Union, maintaining the trend of the recovery posed by the Baltic States. Gradually release control and begin in other States, unions of, but the opening is chaotic and without cooperation with Brussels. Countries pursue their own interests, leaving behind Italy, where already complain about the lack of unity.
Austria from June 4 removes border and sanitary control on the border with seven neighboring countries. The list includes Hungary, Germany, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Slovakia, Slovenia and the Czech Republic. The Austrian authorities canceled a mandatory two-week observation for the citizens of these States and will not require tourists to be tested for the coronavirus.
Together with Austria breaks begin to act on the border between the Czech Republic and Slovakia, governments have agreed to reopen the free movement of people and goods, which was discontinued at the beginning of the pandemic.
Since June 1, these States have made the appropriate relief for the 24 countries of the EU — limit is preserved only in relation to Belgium, the UK, Sweden and Portugal.
Other state enterprises are also gradually opening to tourists, Germany removes restrictions on travel in the EU since June 15, by the same date attached to the opening of Belgium and Greece; Croatia has already opened the border for 10 European countries.
Joined the trend on easing and Italy, taking appropriate action on 3 June, but other EU countries are wary of a resumption of free movement with her. In particular, Austria is not going to open the border with Italy, while the Republic and among its neighbors. Against this idea are also Germany, France and Switzerland, partially resumed communication with each other.
Technically Italy is the same situation with which the country has faced in the beginning of the pandemic, when the EU quickly began to close of their borders due rapid growth in the number of cases. This fact hit hard by the reputation of the Association and raised questions about the unity between the country parties.
especially in Italy not just talking about the lack of assistance from neighbors, and about the issues with the “European solidarity”.
the Main question was addressed to Brussels, which, most likely, was to coordinate the actions of EU member States in the framework of a pandemic. Although technically the EU has no General health care system, and thus the tools for a coordinated response to the epidemic of abandoned call.
controls the EU tried to remedy this situation, when the pandemic began to subside in most States enterprises. The European Commission has developed an overall plan for lifting the restrictive measures and a gradual opening of the borders, but, as the actions of the EU, is to take control of this process, Brussels had failed.
As stated by Politico former Minister tourism Italy Gian Marco Centinaio while there are restrictions on movement for Italians, Spaniards and Swedes in Europe something does not work.
From the point of view of Italy, the EU treats her like a “leper colony.” According to the Italian Minister for foreign Affairs Luigi Di Maio, the Union will collapse if there is no joint decision-making.
However, until that happens, and the country largely pursuing their own interests, make a decision on opening borders to certain countries. For example, the resumption of transport links between the Czech Republic and Slovakia is necessary for the full recovery of bilateral trade.
the opening of the borders is necessary and Italy, as revenues from tourism make up about 13% of GDP and provide about 15% of jobs. Important it is for Greece, which will be affordable for most European tourists since June 15.
In the circumstances, the dissatisfaction of Rome, obviously, but hope for a General solution looks quite naive. In particular, you should not expect that member States will follow the General guidelines presented by the European Commission.
“Countries based on their assessments of the situation, the economic estimation and international contacts. We see that the Baltic countries are very clearly divided neighbors to those they trust and those who are weaker. All assess the situation based on concrete data, not some General abstract plans,” — said in a conversation with “Газетой.Ru” the Director of the Center for comprehensive European and international studies Timofey Bordachev.
Given that the situation of Italy is repeated and occurs at the same time with Sweden, the UK, the Western media once again raises the question of solidarity of Europeans. On problems with interactions among the enterprises pointed out in Rome and Paris, especially when discussing the plan to rescue the European economies.
However, Bordachev encouraged to share the “European solidarity” and solidarity with the European bureaucracy — EU countries are not obliged to show solidarity to the officials in Brussels were able to save face.
“however, European solidarity is demonstrated through the opening of the borders of the Baltic countries. They are not allowed to undergo a mandatory quarantine residents of 24 countries of EU measures is preserved only for Belgium, UK, Portugal and Sweden. Moreth degree for the British and the Swedes where very bad. It is, in fact, is the European solidarity, in this part, no damage there,” — concluded the expert.
Likely to change this situation around the management bodies of the European Union should not be expected and after the pandemic, at least while between countries there is no agreement about the overall health system.
the European diplomats are actively discussing the issue, although the probability that all countries would agree on the General health system is not too large. According to Timothy Bordachev, nobody is going to risk the health of their citizens and put them in dependence on abstract considerations of Brussels.
Alexey Poplavsky
