On Wednesday, the College of Commissioners of the European Commission updated the public on lifting COVID-19 travel restrictions to European and Schengen states. In a read-out of a College meeting to address disinformation surrounding COVID-19, Vice President Josep Borrell Fontelles confirmed that the European Union will begin gradually lifting travel bans that have been in place for months in some locations of the EU.
“Later this week, the College will adopt its assessment of travel restrictions and will put forward an approach for the gradual and partial lifting of these restrictions as of the 1st of July,” Vice President Borrell stated onstage in Brussels. However, he made sure to clarify that this lifting will be supervised and approved by the Commission based on COVID-19 preventative criteria being in place and coordination between the Commission and the EU states including mandatory or random testing that will be done in some countries.
1 July remains the date that the European Union member states have eyed for foreign travel to Europe to resume. This comes after many internal borders already re-opening through late May and early June, facilitating travel between member states that share a border.
The opening of borders to foreign travellers remains an important, if not an integral part of the European economy, and finding a way to re-open borders to non-EU travellers has been a priority while still maintaining preventative measures to keep a check on COVID-19.
The EU Commissioner of Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson, said that the Commission is busy coordinating with member states and compiling a list of non-EU countries whose travellers would be free to visit European countries when borders open on 1 July – meaning that not all countries will be free to visit the European Union on 1 July.
“It will apply to all countries in a similar or better [COVID-19 outbreak] situation to the EU,” clarified Johansson. While a firm list has not yet been confirmed, it is expected that the countries with the largest outbreaks like the United States, Brazil, Russia, and India will not be free to travel to the EU except for essential travel, students, and highly-skilled non-EU workers.
Vice President Borrell’s statement regarding lifting travel restrictions came during a speech detailing the commission’s response to disinformation regarding the pandemic including far-fetched conspiracy theories, misleading health information, and confidence scams that play on people’s heightened fear during the outbreak.
The Commission confirmed that they will begin issuing regular reports to fact-check dubious claims and will continue to give regular press briefings to confirm their stances on various issues, much like they did in clarifying the timeline for lifting travel restrictions. Vice President Borrell also iterated that they will be working with their international partners to combat the spreading of disinformation and enhance press access and freedom in order to help disseminate correct information regarding the disease and the efforts being used to combat it.
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