scrb11

Some EU official announced entry by non-residents of the EU and Schengen will be allowed starting in July.

https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/new...g-from-july-1/

EU/Schengen is still trying to coordinate on lifting all border restrictions within Schengen by the end of this month. Switzerland for instance announced they will open border to Italy on 15 June.

It's confusing who has the final stay, the EU/EP or member states. I would think the latter.

Certain states have announced lists of countries from which they will allow tourists to enter. Again, will there be some universal rule or criteria or list or will each country do their own thing?

For instance, Portugal seems to want to open up to everyone, including Brazil, given the linguistic/cultural ties. But Brazil is one of the countries going through the worst part of the pandemic right now.

What happens if someone enters Portugal and drive across the border to Spain or fly to Austria, for instance, which currently has not lifted bans for Portuguese travelers yet?

Once internal EU/Schengen borders are fully open, which is suppose to happen by end of month, if an American enters say Greece, how would they prevent Americans from flying onwards to Austria or Switzerland?

kerouac

Israeli tourists have been allowed to visit Cyprus.

Tulips

The member states have the final say on opening the internal EU borders.
The last weekend in May the Belgians decided that their citizens could go and visit family on the other side of the border, and those living near the border could go shopping on the other side. They didn't tell the Dutch, though, who didn't mind but were surprised by the sudden increase in visitors in border towns. The French did mind and send the Belgians back at the border.

For the external border it would have to be the EU who decides, since once in Schengen a visitor can go anywhere. If Portugal allows visitors from Brazil, I think maybe the Spanish will close the border again to those coming from Portugal, or check the crossings.

Hambagahle

There is a coordinated border opening between some Schengen countries and the UK to happen on June 15. Looks like it will be most countries aside from Spain and Portugal. Once borders are open people can travel freely within those (Schengen) countries but not necessarily arrive in those countries from outside Schengen.

UK is a different matter since they never closed their borders but have this week imposed a 14 quarantine on all arriving passengers. plus of course they are not members of Schengen anyway.

StCirq

Another article from France 24: https://www.france24.com/en/20200610...rs-from-july-1

hetismij2

Not all non EU/Schengen nationalities will be welcomed, if the EU has any say in the matter - it will depend on the rates of infection in the country of origin. It is of course essential that all Schengen countries agree to the same thing or someone from Brazil say could fly into Portugal and then travel throughout the Schengen zone spreading Covid as they go.

Of course it will also depend on the country of origin allowing travel to Europe.

Most intra EU/Schengen travel will be allowed from June 15th, but it is really up to each country who they allow in. Denmark and Norway are being very restrictive and other countries have restrictions as well, which are regularly reviewed.

I can't say I will be loading up the camper and heading out into Europe any time soon.

Hambagahle

It is my understanding that travel from Portugal and Spain to the rest of the Schengen countries and associated ones will not be unrestricted next week.

I have to agree with the last comment. Aside from going to France to the supermarket and then to lunch I am certainly not planning on any holidays outside of CH this year!

menachem

Me neither. It's going to be a staycation and work on the boat.

menachem

OTOH, I read an article about a plane landing in Athens from Doha. There, all passengers had been checked (not tested, temp checks).
In Athens they were tested: 12 Corona cases were found.

Asymptomatic spreading is a thing, and some countries believe in it (Greece) some don't (Netherlands, Sweden)

Lois2

And it sure seems the theory of it going away in warm weather is off the table...so many high spikes in US with the hot weather here.I guess I understand the very young feeling invincible but for the older travelers especially over 60 I would think the additional stress of the plane trip and always having to be concerned about not getting closed to people...mask on mask off etc. would make any vacation not much fun.

kerouac

Not to mention the fact that it is spreading like wildfire in Mexico, Brazil and India. It seems to thrive in all climates.

geetika

Cases rising exponentially in India despite 80+ days of strict lockdown, which some states have extended to June 30. And it’s expected to peak in July-August...not looking good at all, luckily there don’t seem to be too many fatalities, though hospitals are swamped.

balthy

Tourists originating from Israel will only be allowed into Cyprus if they have a negative result COVID-19 test done about 72 hours before departure to Cyprus plus they need to fill in various forms/declaration to get a CyprusFlightPass. This applies for all tourists originating in category B countries.

Tulips

I really don't see how requiring negative tests is going to work. I know here in Belgium it is not that easy to just get a test and get the results quickly unless you are actually ill. A friend had a test done 4 days ago and is still waiting for results.
I wish they would roll out a nation-wide testing programme in order to identify non-symptomatic cases.

balthy

If a test is not possible in the country of origin, people will be tested on arrival at their own expense.

COVID-19_Destination_Protocol-Cyprus_final.pdf

menachem

In any case Amsterdam is open for drunk British tourists again, as I could witness yesterday already.

kerouac

People have always claimed that alcohol is a disinfectant.

Tulips

and how many of them are going to follow the rules and go in quarantaine in the UK when they return there? Probably none.

Lois2

the self quarantine this summer is a joke. UK package tourists are soon to be "on the loose" in Greece with pages of rules that Greek authorities have laid out. Low cost planes full of tourists packed in....all this testing is pointless. I think any holiday destination in the world that opens up for tourism this summer will be part of the spread...and frankly all of this right now is still part of the "first wave" as things never really got down sufficiently in places that are now open again. A "second wave" is assured the way things are going. I feel for local Europeans in any more holiday type town as many are not really 100% with the opening but have no choice.

StCirq

You got it right, Lois. This fall is going to be murderous here in Europe, because people wanted to go to the beach, cafés, festivals, etc. . Just wait...I predict it's going to be awful. People are already turning their attention to other things - it's going to hit them like a sunami. By September or October.