Europe’s borders to reopen but not everyone is invited

LONDON: After three months of isolation within their national borders, Europeans will find Monday the possibility of traveling more easily from one country to another, due to the decline of the pandemic of new Coronavirus.

But be careful before packing your bags: the return to free movement inside the Old Continent was done in dispersed order and the map of Europe presents a mosaic of green, orange and red lights, depending on the origin or the destination.

Italy had given the signal on June 3 by reopening to all travelers ... even though most states maintained restrictions with this country which was one of the hotbeds of the pandemic in Europe.

Another country in a hurry to save its tourist season, Croatia also anticipated the call and reopened its borders on Thursday, just like Poland, accessible for all European citizens from Saturday.

Many countries have chosen the “onion strategy”, opening up in recent weeks to their neighbors first, before expanding the circulation perimeter. Thus, it is already possible to circulate without control in central Europe or from one Baltic country to another.

On a continent where each country had barricaded itself since mid-march, two states were an exception: Sweden remained in principle accessible to EU travelers, as did Luxembourg.

The frontier workers essential to the economy have benefited from passes to go back and forth with the Grand Duchy.

Belgium, France and Greece re-establish free movement on Monday morning with all the countries of the continent. Athens, whose economy is largely based on tourism, goes even further and invites travelers from several regions outside the EU - such as Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, China.

Germans and Austrians will wait until midnight Monday before being able to take the road, rail or air to the rest of Europe.

Among the countries which are going to lift their controls, or have already done so, many of them (Hungary, Bulgaria, Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Latvia ...) however maintain restrictions for travelers from European destinations where the infection rate is still considered too high.

Each country has composed its list, more or less long, of risk areas. Sweden and Great Britain are invariably included. Spain and Portugal are often added to this. Sometimes the Netherlands, Belgium, France.

Either travel to or from these destinations is prohibited, or a negative Covid-19 screening test or 14-day isolation is required.