The 27 EU Member States are postponing a decision on the coordinated reopening of their borders for travelers from non-EU countries to Monday. As of Friday, a list of some twenty ‘safe’ countries has been on the table, but some EU governments need more time to say yes or no, according to EU sources.
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The ‘white’ list is said to include Canada, Australia and Japan, but travelers from the United States and Russia are not yet welcome because they do not have enough control over the coronavirus.
For some countries, such as China, a principle of reciprocity could apply: travelers from those countries are welcome provided that EU citizens are also in that country. These are countries where the epidemiological situation is considered acceptable, ie equal to or better than the EU average.
Member States have been bickering about the issue for weeks. The 27 EU countries have the power to decide for which non-EU countries they will open their doors again, but to avoid confusion, they try to do it in a coordinated manner. Some countries want more than others, especially the southern Member States, where tourism is important.
In mid-March, EU countries except Ireland closed their borders to travelers from outside the EU for unnecessary travel. The entry ban has already been extended twice. The restriction does not apply to residents of the Schengen countries of Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Liechtenstein.
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