Monday, December 4, 2023
 
 

EU27 leaders greenlight European border shutdown

EPA-EFE/YVES HERMAN /
A general view shows European Union leaders during the second day of a special European Council summit in Brussels, Belgium, 21 February 2020.

- Advertisement -

The leaders of the EU27 bloc gave the nod on Tuesday to the Commission’s proposal for a 30-day non-essential travel ban from third countries to the EU, as the Union is struggling to find a coordinated response to the COVID-19 emergency.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that “a unanimous and united approach” was endorsed and that member states ”would “immediately” move to the implementation of the measure, as several member states have already unilaterally shut their borders.
She also highlighted the need to keep EU’s supply chain functioning, saying that “the flow of goods has to be swift, we need these goods for the functioning of the internal market.”
The ban, which can be extended if necessary, aims at lifting internal border control measures recently imposed by several member states, and ensuring that health systems are not overwhelmed.
“The Union and its member states will do whatever it takes,” said EU Council President Charles Michel.
Movement within the European Union will still be allowed, however, EU citizens were urged to avoid all non-essential travel. EU leaders also agreed to coordinate on the repatriation of EU citizens.
The measure of the borders’ closure, won’t apply to the UK, cross-border professionals, social workers, medical professionals and scientists.
 
 

- Advertisement -

Subscribe to our newsletter

Latest

Ukraine, Middle East will dominate Cameron’s UK foreign policy agenda

David Cameron, who was made Foreign Secretary in a...

What will it take to prevent a Gaza reconstruction fiasco?

Let us be unequivocal about the current war between...

Ukraine’s persecuted mayor

Lest it be forgotten, the major thematic issue in...

Don't miss

Ukraine, Middle East will dominate Cameron’s UK foreign policy agenda

David Cameron, who was made Foreign Secretary in a...

What will it take to prevent a Gaza reconstruction fiasco?

Let us be unequivocal about the current war between...

Ukraine’s persecuted mayor

Lest it be forgotten, the major thematic issue in...

Cameron’s return as Foreign Secretary raises UK’s international profile

David Cameron, who was made foreign secretary in a...

World Health Organization highlights Kazakhstan’s historic role

The United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) held a major regional conference and celebration in Astana, Kazakhstan October 23-26 on the subject of Primary...

How countries prepare for population growth and decline

Early this year, India surpassed China as the most populous country in the world, with the latter having 850,000 fewer people by the end...

Strong US support for Minnesota’s 2027 Expo bid

The next General Assembly of the Bureau International des Expositions, better known by its acronym ‘BIE’, will take place June 20-21 in Paris where...

Research, tech advancements in tobacco and nicotine products provide harm reduction options to smokers, but who’s listening?

If a large majority of tobacco smokers, who are unable or unwilling to quit, would switch without delay to using an alternative source of nicotine with lower health risks, and eventually stop using it, this would represent a significant contemporary public health achievement.

Kazakhstan’s president proposes Constitutional reforms referendum

Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev proposed on April 29 holding a referendum in the Central Asian country on the draft amendments to the Constitution and...

The cure for COVID-19 has been worse than the disease

The American entrepreneur Jim Rohn once said that it is important to count the cost first before doing anything. This watchword has not been...

EU says COVID pass sufficient for bloc travel

Updating the rules to facilitate safe and free movement in the EU during the pandemic, EU ministers reconfirmed on January 25 the possession of...