EU Plans to Reopen External Borders in July as COVID-19 Restrictions Ease

In order to limit the spread of the coronavirus, the Member States of the European Union and the European Commission had decreed, on March 17, the ban on non-essential travel to the EU. The measure is in effect until June 15.

During their meeting, the ministers proposed a "short" extension of this deadline until June 30, as Spain was not willing to reopen its borders before that date.

The Croatian State Secretary, Terezija Gras, President-in-Office of the EU Council, at a press conference held at the end of the meeting, specified that the reopening of the external borders of the EU must be done in a "coordinated, proportionate and non-discriminatory" manner.

"If internal border controls are lifted at the end of June, we should be able to consider a gradual lifting of the ban on non-essential travel in early July," said European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson, welcoming the lifting of controls in the majority of Member States. She also hopes for a return to normal within the Schengen area "by the end of June at the latest".

In the opinion of the health authorities, there is no reason to maintain additional travel restrictions or border measures within the EU-Schengen area "if health measures such as physical distancing remain in place," Ylva Johansson stressed, noting that ultimately "the last word rests with the Member States".