The European Union closed its external borders in Marchwhen coronavirus infection began to spread rapidly. At that time, controls at the internal borders between the EU states also began, which the member states gradually abolished in June, with a few exceptions. At the same time, the European Commission (EC) recommended that they gradually allow the entry of people from non-EU countries from next week, depending on the development of the disease.
After several difficult negotiations, the ambassadors of the member states agreed on the list, which won the required majority of votes on Saturday according to the Croatian EU presidency. If formally confirmed by remote government representatives on Monday at a distance, Australians, Chinese, Japanese, Canadians and Koreans will be able to fly to EU countries from Wednesday.
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The list also includes Algeria, Georgia, Morocco, New Zealand, Rwanda, Thailand, Tunisia and Uruguay. It also includes the small European states of Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and the Vatican, as well as two Balkan countries, Serbia and Montenegro.
It was the countries of the Western Balkans, which the Commission was the first to mention in its recommendations, that were the subject of disputes between ambassadors, some of whom warned against the not entirely favorable development of the disease in the region.
The number of newly infected should not exceed the EU average
The main criterion for a particular country to be included in the list should be the number of new infections, which should not exceed the EU average. He currently has 16 infected per 100,000 inhabitants in two weeks.
Due to this requirement, Americans, Russians and Brazilians, for example, will not be able to travel to the EU yet. Washington has indicated this week that it wants to negotiate the mutual opening of borders with European countries in the coming weeks.
It is the reciprocal entry permit for its citizens that the European Community requires as another criterion for inclusion on the list.
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A more cautious approach due to fears of the second wave
The EU countries are trying to revive tourism, which has been hit hard by the spring coronavirus restrictions. Tourism-related industries account for about a tenth of the EU’s gross domestic product (GDP), and some countries have called for borders to be opened more quickly to more non-European tourists. However, many countries are calling for more caution, fearing a second wave of the disease.
That is why the first list of the originally considered up to fifty countries was narrowed down to less than twenty. Its possible dissemination will be evaluated by EU representatives every two weeks on the basis of current epidemiological data.
Border controls are the sole responsibility of the Member States, and if a Union country does not agree with the list, it can theoretically proceed on its own.
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