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to which countries should the EU reopen its borders?

While the countries of the continent are gradually being deconfined, the European Union plans to reopen its borders to fifteen countries. Friday evening, the ambassadors of the EU countries and the Schengen area proposed a list, which excludes the United States where the epidemic seems out of control.

According to a diplomatic source, among the countries considered are Algeria, Australia, Canada, Georgia, Japan, Montenegro, Morocco, New Zealand, Rwanda, Serbia, South Korea, Thailand, Tunisia, and Uruguay. Countries to which China is added, on condition of reciprocity, that is to say on the condition that it welcomes travelers coming from the EU to its soil. Travelers from Andorra, Monaco, the Vatican and San Marino would also be admitted.

The Croatian EU Presidency had given member states until Saturday evening to vote on it, but some have asked for more time. The Europeans were unable to agree on a list of countries considered to be “safe” and whose residents could come to Europe from July 1. Date on which the ban on non-essential travel to the EU should be lifted.

“Consultations are continuing, and will continue until Monday,” said a European diplomatic source. “It is difficult to predict an outcome, but the presidency hopes to be able to vote on Monday,” said the source. The list should then be reviewed every two weeks.

Epidemiological criteria

The European proposal sets several epidemiological criteria for a country to be on the admitted list, in particular a rate of new cases of Covid-19 close to or below 16 per 100,000 inhabitants (average in the EU) over the last 14 days. But also a tendency for stability or a decrease in new cases, as well as the measures put in place by a country to fight against the pandemic, including the practice of tests. Several Member States have, however, considered “problematic” the reliability of epidemiological data provided by third countries, including China.

If border control remains a competence of each State, the EU will endeavor to coordinate as much as possible on the question of travelers to authorize on its soil, due to the free movement which resumes in the Schengen area, with lifting of restrictions decided to fight against the coronavirus.

But some tourist countries are eager to reopen without delay. Greece has started from June 15 to reopen its airports to several countries outside the EU, including China, New Zealand and South Korea.

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