The Schengen Member States and the Schengen Associated States may remain closed to non-EEA nationals for another month as the European Commission has invited these countries to extend the temporary restriction on non-essential travel to the EU for another 30 days, until June 15.
As the ban on non-EEA nationals comes close to marking two months ever since the EU decided to shut its borders to foreigners for the first time since its existence, the Commission has seen it necessary for the ban to remain in force for another month.
Despite that some of the member states and the associated states are taking preliminary steps towards easing the measures for fighting the spread of the pandemic, the situation remains fragile both in Europe and worldwide, the Commission asserts in a press release issued today.
“The lifting of travel restrictions should be phased: as underlined in the Joint European Roadmap on lifting containment measures, internal border controls will need to start being lifted gradually and in a coordinated manner before restrictions at the external borders can be relaxed in a second stage,” the press release also states.
The Commission also calls for a continued coordinated approach to the prolongation, as action at the external borders can only be effective if implemented by all EU and Schengen States at all borders, with the same end date and in a uniform manner.
According to the Vice-President for Promoting the European Way of Life, Margaritis Schinas, despite progress, the situation remains fragile when it comes to the pandemic
“The overall objective of limiting the spread of coronavirus via reduced social interaction remains. Despite progress in many European countries, the situation worldwide is very fragile. It is imperative that any action taken is gradual, with different measures being lifted in different phases,” he says.
At the same time, the Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson insisted that a phased and coordinated approach is a must, in order to restore the normal functioning of the Schengen area of free movement, which he says is the first objective of the EC as soon as the health situation allows it.
“Restrictions on free movement and internal border controls will need to be lifted gradually before we can remove restrictions at the external borders and guarantee access to the EU for non-EU residents for non-essential travel,” the Commissioner said.
Back in March 2020, all Schengen Area Member States approved a plan proposed by the EU Commission to close the external borders of the territory, for at least a period of 30 days, as the most extreme measure taken by the block to halt the further spreading of the COVID-19.
Later on April 8, the Commission called for prolonging the travel restriction until May 15. All EU Member States (except Ireland) and non-EU Schengen countries have since taken national decisions to implement and prolong this travel restriction.