As the European Union Member States continue attempts for a common approach to the lifting of measures introduced due to the Coronavirus pandemic, many Britons wonder whether the EU borders will open in summer for holidaymakers. eu travelling

Despite the ongoing attempts, and the calls for fast action, pragmatism and creativity to recover and build a resilient and sustainable tourism industry, it remains unclear when tourism in the EU will restore.

While many EU officials assume that tourism will completely restore by mid-summer, at least for EU nationals travelling within the block’s Member States, other top officials cannot quite make up their minds. eu travelling

The European Commission President, for example, in mid-April showed her scepticism that summer holidays could be possible at all, warning travellers to hold off their plans.

Days later, President Leyen asserted that plans for summer holidays in Europe could be feasible if people stick to social distancing.

“I think we are going to find smart solutions to have a summer vacation. Maybe a little different, with other hygiene measures, with a little more social distance, but it is impressive to see that we have found solutions. So, I am optimistic about the summer holidays,” she said in contradiction to her previous statements.

The later statements of the EC President have been backed by attempts of the 27 EU Members (without the UK), including video conferences and meetings of the Ministers of Tourism and the Internal Ministers, attempting to find a solution.

The following few days will show whether tourism within the EU will be possible this summer for Britons. By what we have seen so far, even if holidaymakers do not have to call off their plans, this summer will not be a normal summer; therefore, normal vacations shall not be expected.

EU Tourism with Border Controls in Place

The external border controls of the EU remain closed for any non-essential trips, a measure which the UK has refused to apply at its borders despite the Commission’s call.

In their last meeting held at the end of April, the Interior Ministers of the European Union Member States discussed the possible gradual easing or removal of measures introduced at the borders, in a videoconference chaired by the Minister of the Interior and Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia, Davor Božinović. eu travelling

“The borders could be gradually opened, starting from the border areas that have seen reductions in COVID-19 cases,” a press release of Croatia’s Ministry of the Interior issued upon the meeting reads.

Yet, Schengen Member states are not quite planning to abolish the recently reintroduced temporary border controls any time soon, an updated list of the prolongation of these borders shows. Some of the countries have even extended the border controls to year’s end.

Vera Jourova, the vice president in the EU executive, has called on the bloc’s member states to lift travel bans and border controls thrown up in response to the pandemic “as soon as possible” after it was deemed safe by scientific advice.

Britons May Soon Need ‘COVID-19 Passports’ to Travel to the Rest of EU

Last Monday during a video meeting, the Tourism Ministers of the EU Countries discussed the option of creating a certificate of security in the sphere of tourism under the provisional name “COVID-19 passport”, which would refer to the health status of the owner of the document, and enable him/her to travel to the EU and the Schengen States.

This passport would be linked to capitals being subject to “common rules and protocols” for social distancing, as well as tracking systems if there is an outbreak of infections.

Croatia’s Minister of Tourism, Gari Cappelli confirmed that the Ministers agreed on the creation of a common document under the name COVID-passport, which would work all over the EU.

“The ministers agreed that the common document under provision name Covid-passport should be created and it will work all over the EU,” Cappelli said.

French Believe It Is Too Early to Give Perspective for Summer Holidays in France

Several French officials have shown in recent days that they are not very keen on the idea of giving an answer to the possibility of summer holidays for this year,

The Secretary of State to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs in France, Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne, says that he cannot provide answers to those who wish to organize summer holidays, advising travellers to be patient because the virus still needs to be fought.

“It is still too early to give a perspective. I understand the impatience of some to be able to organize themselves from the point of view of tourists, but today there is still this fight to be waged against the virus,” Secretary of State pointed out.

France is planning to lift its lockdown measures on May 11, but the government has clarified that the process will happen gradually.

Germany Tells Its Citizens: Do Not Travel At Least Until June 14

On the other hand, the Federal government of Germany has decided to extend the warning against international travel, at least until June 14.

“We have not yet reached the point where we can recommend carefree travel. Therefore, it is necessary to extend the worldwide travel warning until mid-June,” Foreign Minister Heiko Maas pointed out during a cabinet meeting.

According to Mass, Europe’s biggest economy has brought home 240,000 stranded tourists in the last four weeks, and they are not going to undertake such an action again in the coming summer.

If Germany is advising its citizens not to travel abroad, it is quite clear that the country is not ready to open its doors to British holidaymakers, at least not in the early summer.

Briton’s Favorite Holiday Destination: Holidays in Spain Not Quite Possible this Summer eu travelling

Costa del Sol and Costa Blanca in Spain are some of the most visited holiday destinations in Spain for UK citizens. However, whether it is or not possible holidaying there or in any other part of Spain remains a mystery for this summer.

A government official showed its scepticism regarding the opening of tourism destinations this summer, taking the example of a second surge in infection in other countries which opened the borders.

“We need to carefully look at what has happened to those countries where the Coronavirus struck early on in Asia. They reopened their borders, and then the Covid-19 cases started to rise again,” the official said.

Currently, Spain, just as France, is prioritizing domestic tourism.

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