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So far 550,000 Europeans have been brought home
The | Reading time: 2 minutes.
Corona virus still has control over Europe
After the Federal Foreign Office extended the travel warnings until mid-May, many have to reschedule their summer vacation. Now it faces unclear regulations and rising prices.
The largest return campaign in the history of the EU is almost complete. Most of the returnees who were stranded abroad due to the Crown crisis are Germans. However, in some countries in Asia and Africa, EU citizens remain stagnant.
DMost of the EU citizens stranded abroad as a result of the crown pandemic have returned. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell told WELT: “When the health emergency peaked worldwide, many Europeans were stranded abroad and unable to return to Europe.”
Around 600,000 people were affected, of which 550,000 Europeans have been returned to their families. “This brought 90 percent from abroad.” The largest return campaign in the history of the EU is now almost complete.
This is also the result of “unique consular cooperation between the European Union and its member states,” emphasized Europe’s leading diplomat. “However, we will continue to work to help the remaining ten percent of Europeans who stay abroad on return flights,” Borrell promised.
The large-scale return campaign shows “that the EU can react quickly and efficiently to unforeseen situations and support its citizens.”
The head of the EU’s foreign policy, Josep Borrell
Credit: Getty Images / Thierry Monasse
Most of the returnees are German. So far, the Federal Republic has brought some 240,000 people home, more than any other EU country. Berlin has contributed 50 million euros for the airlift. Those affected must contribute a small part to the costs.
The European External Action Service in Brussels carried out important coordination work for the return campaign at the European level and ensured that EU citizens could also travel on planes from other member countries. This saved costs and often accelerated return. In general, tourists or young people who completed a school exchange or volunteer program in third countries were returned.
Germany was particularly helpful in the return campaign: Among other things, the federal government rented machines itself, bringing 66,000 people from 65 countries to Europe. Among them were 6,100 people from other EU countries. Foreign Minister Heiko Maas (SPD) spoke of an “unprecedented act of force”.
It was difficult leaving South Africa and New Zealand. There were curfews in South Africa and it was difficult to bring stranded people to airports. New Zealand, in turn, temporarily canceled the return flights.
The return of the remaining 50,000 Europeans is also difficult. Morocco, for example, hardly issues land permits. Getting to the airport in the Philippines, Cameroon and India is difficult because departure restrictions remain tight and local authorities are meticulous.
