The European Commission on Wednesday invited member states to extend until May 15 the ban on non-essential travel to the EU, which was decided on March 17 for a month due to the pandemic of new coronavirus.
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" The Commission calls for a coordinated approach to this extension, since action at the external borders can only be effective if it is implemented by all EU Member States and the Schengen area at all borders, with the same end date and in a uniform manner , "the EU executive said in a statement.
This closure of the external borders of the EU and the Schengen area has a number of exceptions (European nationals and their families, long-term residents, diplomats, medical staff, researchers, cross-border workers, etc.). It does not concern British citizens either, Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said in March. This measure affects 30 countries in total, including Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.
Reduce the risk of spread
" While the initial results are encouraging, the extension of the travel restriction is necessary to continue to reduce the risks of the spread of the disease, " said Commission Vice-President Margaritis Schinas, who was quoted in the press release as saying. " We must not leave the door open while we are securing our home, " he said.
The Commission justifies the need to prolong this closure with a " continuous increase in the number of new cases and deaths in the EU, as well as a progression of the pandemic outside " the bloc, " in particular in countries with from which millions of people usually travel to the EU each year ”. " Since the implementation of this measure in mid-March, air passenger traffic has been reduced to almost zero, the remaining flights being mainly limited to the transport of goods and repatriation, " also said the Commission.
Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson said inter-state coordination was also essential " at internal borders to ensure that our internal market continues to function properly, and that essential products like food, medicine and supplies protection can reach their destination without delay ”. To combat the spread of the virus, many EU countries have re-established temporary border controls, in derogation from the free movement within the Schengen area.