New recommendations from the European Commission: freer travel and good news for Lithuania

“As a result of the coronavirus pandemic, many national governments have imposed travel restrictions in recent months. This is an important tool to stop the spread of the virus. But are citizens often confused about where they can travel? What rules to follow? ”Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, gave the reason for the recommendations.

In particular, the Commission proposes to introduce a common color code for all EU countries.

“The ECDC (European Center for Disease Prevention and Control) will update the map every week based on information from national governments. On this map, each region or country will be green, orange or red, depending on the epidemiological situation” said von der Leyen.

Areas with fewer than 25 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 will be marked green. population in 14 days and only 3 percent. The coronavirus tests are positive.

Orange is administered in areas with fewer than 50 COVID-19 cases per 100,000. population in 14 days, but positive tests are 3 percent. or more. Or the number of new coronavirus cases is between 25 and 150, but the number of positive tests is less than 3%.

Places where more than 50 virus cases per 100,000 will be marked in red. population within 14 days and positive tests are more than 3 percent. or more. Or the total number of new COVID-19 cases is more than 150 in 14 days per 100,000. population.

There is also a gray area: places where not enough information is received or less than 250 tests per 100,000. population.

Lithuania now applies 16 cases per 100,000. population criterion, according to which only 6 countries of the European Economic Area were not included in the black list, that is, 14 days of quarantine for the rest of the countries. According to data from last week, there are 18 countries with 16-25 cases, including Germany, Denmark, Italy, and Cyprus.

And Lithuania itself has exceeded the indicator of 16 cases in recent days.

Upon arrival in Lithuania from countries with more than 25 cases, the results of the COVID-19 test performed no earlier than 72 hours are required.

Most importantly, the Commission proposes not to restrict travel, even from the red zones.

“We offer a common approach to the restrictions that apply to travelers in the red zones. We believe that no EU citizen should receive an answer to come to another EU country ”, said the President of the Commission.

Those arriving from the red or gray area are offered a 14-day quarantine or COVID-19 test. Testing should be prioritized.

Those who come from the orange zone should only be advised to take the test.

Furthermore, the Commission proposes not requiring quarantine for newcomers, such as key professions, temporary workers, students and journalists.

There should be no restrictions on green areas.

“There is no need to take measures that are too big to achieve,” Internal Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson told a press conference in Brussels.

The Commission’s recommendations are in line with Wednesday’s agreement between EU ambassadors on the need for common rules and greater coordination of the response to the coronavirus pandemic. The recommendations will now go to the Council of Europe, where a political decision is awaited, which is not legally binding for the Member States, but is binding.

“These measures will give Europeans stability, more predictability and clarity,” von der Leyen concluded.

This initiative was prompted by Hungary’s unilateral decision to close the borders to all EU and non-EU citizens as of September 1, with the exception of Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. It was reminiscent of last spring, when country after country rushed to close borders, completely undermining one of the EU’s fundamental principles, the free movement of people, services and goods.