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According to Politico, a “gradual process” to restore free movement in Europe is on the College of Commissioners’ agenda for Wednesday. In fact, a Greek proposal on this topic is expected to be discussed.
In particular, according to a draft statement issued by Politico, the European Commission will discuss a “gradual and coordinated approach” to lifting controls on the EU’s internal borders. You may have to pass a test or reside. in a “green” area on the crown scale to allow you to travel, always according to the draft.
“If epidemiological developments in Europe continue to trend positively, travel restrictions and border controls are likely to be gradually phased out across the EU,” the draft said. But this is Phase 2, and it may be a long way off, since today we are in what the Commission calls Phase 0.
For the potentially long period between phase 0 and phase 2, Brussels will propose lifting the restrictions for only a few parties at the beginning, that is, for regions of EU countries that have a “comparable epidemiological situation”.
The second option for free movement is to allow borders to be crossed where travelers “may be subject to specific controls”, such as health controls, “without discrimination (which may take place at the border or earlier)”. says the draft. In addition, travel restrictions could be lifted first “for certain types of transport and certain types of tourist activities, in view of the planning of summer vacations for traveling,” the Commission document indicates.
The topic will be discussed on the College of Commissioners’ agenda for Wednesday, along with a host of related proposals, which make up the mantra of Commission President Ursula von der Leyen that travel, tourism, vacation , the single market, the Schengen area, economic recovery, the future of Europe, digitization and the Green Agreement are interrelated.
In fact, restoring free movement is one of the five steps proposed by the Commission to give the world some hope for the summer months.
The Greek plan for the summer.
Athens is pressing for a very quick return to free movement in Europe. “Our goal is to work to allow travel between EU countries again before June 15, when possible,” said a Greek document presented to the Commission on Monday and made available to Politician.
In fact, Athens wants “fair treatment” of all possible travelers to avoid “any discriminatory attitude towards citizenship” in the travel protocols. “We cannot allow the single market to fragment in the case of tourism services,” the document said, urging people to be allowed to travel … and then return home quickly and easily: there should be no quarantine. or other disproportionate or disproportionate type. claims for postponement of return “.
However, Athens does not support the full opening of the borders to anyone. And where the Commission’s aforementioned plan is quite detailed, Athens requires a “common understanding” at EU level that all travelers should be tested for the crown or antibody three days before taking a trip. He also said the alternatives would not require testing “for travel between areas; they have shown clear and consistent evidence that the coronavirus situation is under control.”
However, there is another country-specific request for islands that cannot be accessed by road. “There can be no discrimination or differentiation in terms of travel means,” says Athens. “Road, air, sea and rail travel must start at the same time and with similar protocols. We cannot allow more member countries of our Union to be delayed.
“So on airplanes, ‘all seats’ must be filled,” the document said, as the vacancies would not be profitable and the health benefits would be questionable.
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