La Comisión Europea quiere abrir Europa a los viajeros internacionales en julio (con precauciones)

La Comisión Europea emitió un comunicado recomendando a los estados miembros del Acuerdo Schengen y asociados que levanten los controles de fronteras a partir del 15 de junio y que prolonguen las restricciones para viajes no esenciales dentro de la Unión Europea hasta el 30 de junio de 2020.

A partir del 1 de julio, teniendo en cuenta que la situación sanitaria en ciertos países sigue siendo crítica, determinarán en conjunto para qué países fuera de la Unión Europea se levantarán las restricciones de acuerdo a ciertos principios y criterios objetivos. Pueden leer el detalle de esos puntos a tener en cuenta más adelante cuando citamos el comunicado.

Considerando los viajes internacionales como clave para el turismo, los negocios y reencuentros familiares, están analizando la manera cuidadosa de eliminar las restricciones de viaje a partir del 1 de julio para viajeros internacionales de ciertos países. Falta que los estados miembros se pongan de acuerdo en la lista de los países que tendrán permitido ingresar a la Unión Europea y moverse libremente dentro de su territorio. También aclaran que, en los casos en que permanezcan las restricciones, se abrirá un poco al menos (por ejemplo, para estudiantes y trabajadores esenciales).

No sabemos si Argentina estará en esta primera lista de «países bienvenidos» a partir del 1 de julio o no, quedamos expectantes.

Hay varios puntos interesantes para ver, transcribimos el comunicado para que lo chusmeen (también pueden verlo en la web de la Comisión Europea):

Today the Commission recommends to Schengen Member States and Schengen Associated States to lift internal border controls by 15 June 2020 and to prolong the temporary restriction on non-essential travel into the EU until 30 June 2020; and sets out an approach to progressively lifting the restriction afterwards.

Given that the health situation in certain third countries remains critical, the Commission does not propose a general lifting of the travel restriction at this stage. The restriction should be lifted for countries selected together by Member States, based on a set of principles and objective criteria including the health situation, the ability to apply containment measures during travel, and reciprocity considerations, taking into account data from relevant sources such as ECDC and WHO.

For countries towards which the restriction remains in place, the Commission proposes to enlarge the categories of permitted travellers to include, for instance, international students. The Commission is also issuing guidance to Member States to ensure that the resumption of visa operations abroad is well coordinated with the gradual lifting of the travel restrictions.

Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson,said: “Following the lifting of all internal border checks inside the Union, we are proposing a clear and flexible approach towards removing restrictions on travel to the EU starting on 1 July. International travel is key for tourism and business, and for family and friends reconnecting. While we will all have to remain careful, the time has come to make concrete preparations for lifting restrictions with countries whose health situation is similar to the EU’s and for resuming visa operations.”

Gradually removing restrictions on travel to the EU

Actions at the EU’s external borders must be coordinated and uniform to be effective. As travellers entering the EU can move freely from one country to another, it is crucial that Member States coordinate their decisions on lifting travel restrictions. This is why Member States should agree on a common list of non-EU countries for which travel restrictions can be lifted as of 1 July, to be reviewed on a regular basis. To this end, the Commission proposes:

  • Objective criteria: The decision to lift restrictions for a specific country should be based on the epidemiological situation and coronavirus response in that country, the ability to apply containment measures during travel, and whether or not that country has lifted travel restrictions towards the EU. Restrictions should be lifted first with countries whose epidemiological situation is similar to the EU average and where sufficient capabilities to deal with the virus are in place. Restrictions should remain in place for countries whose situation is worse than in the EU. The Commission proposes a detailed checklist to help Member States reach a common assessment. Decisions on lifting travel restrictions would concern non-EU nationals residing in a specific country (not its nationals).
  • Common and coordinated approach: The Commission proposes a coordination mechanism whereby it would support Member States and Schengen Associated States at technical level and facilitate the preparation of a list of countries for which travel restrictions could be lifted. Decisions on lifting restrictions should then be prepared with Member States under the EU’s integrated political crisis response mechanism. Member States should adopt such decisions in a coordinated manner and ensure uniform application across the EU. This will be a dynamic process and the integrated political crisis response mechanism would need to coordinate further updates.
  • Flexibility: It will be possible to reintroduce travel restrictions for a specific country if the criteria are no longer met. In addition, Member States can still refuse entry to a non-EU traveller presenting a threat to public health, even coming from a country for which restrictions were lifted.

In line with the proposed checklist, the Commission also recommends to lift travel restrictions for Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia as of 1 July, given that their epidemiological situation is similar or better than that of the EU. This also follows on the Commission’s readiness to closely associate the Western Balkans region with the implementation of the roadmap towards lifting containment measures.

Where the travel restrictions continue to apply, Member States should ensure that those travelling to study are exempted, together with highly skilled non-EU workers if their employment is necessary from an economic perspective and the work cannot be postponed or performed abroad. EU citizens and citizens of Schengen Associated States and non-EU nationals legally residing in the EU, as well as their family members, should also be exempt from the travel restriction regardless of whether or not they are returning home, as was the case until now.

In the roadmap on lifting containment measures presented on 15 April, the Commission indicated that travel restrictions within the EU would need to start being lifted gradually before restrictions at the external borders can be relaxed in a second stage. This is now well under way, with several Member States having already lifted restrictions within the EU and others planning to do so as of 15 June 2020. The Commission strongly encourages the remaining Member States to finalise the process of removing restrictions to free movement and lifting internal border controls within the EU by 15 June 2020.

Resuming visa operations

Most Member States decided to suspend or reduce the processing of visa applications as part of pandemic-related measures. Travellers will need to be able to access visa services again and Member States should synchronise the resumption of visa operations with the lifting of travel restrictions. This is why today the Commission presents guidance for a phased and coordinated return of visa operations to normal.

A harmonised approach is best achieved through consulates simultaneously resuming operations in each location and through full implementation of EU visa rules, together with good communication towards the public. The guidance also covers hygiene measures and precautions for receiving visa applicants.

Finally, if a Member State requires health checks, these should take place at the time of travel or shortly before, rather than when applying for a visa; and should apply to all travellers from a given location irrespective of their nationality or visa status.

Background

The Commission invited Heads of State or Government on 16 March 2020 to introduce a temporary restriction on non-essential travel to the EU for an initial period of 30 days, subsequently extending it twiceuntil 15 June.

The travel restriction, as well as today’s invitation to prolong it until 30 June, applies to all Schengen Member States (including Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, and Romania) and the 4 Schengen Associated States (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland) – 30 countries in total. All these countries implement it through national law.

Nationals of 105 countries are required to obtain a visa before travelling to the EU. Visa applications can usually be submitted at Member States’ consulates in almost all non-EU countries around the world. The EU’s visa policy for short stays is applied fully by 26 Schengen Member States and, in normal times, results in 15 million visas being issued each year.

 

20 Respuestas

  1. Luciano dice:

    Hola chicos, recién AR me canceló un vuelo a USA para el 17/7 lo cual me esperaba pero no deja de dolerme, guardaba una mínima esperanza de que pueda realizarse. En el caso de que seamos bienvenidos en Europa estaria dispuesto a viajar allí. Lo que me dijeron en AR (que lamentablemente atienden solo x chat y te contestan cuando quieren) es que puedo reprogramar el viaje con limitaciones de fechas, pero si quiero cambiar de destino debo pedir que me devuelvan las millas y sacar a otro lugar, lo cual con esto que no se consiguen lugares en tarifa promo es super injusto, encima dicen que tardan hasta 4 o 5 meses en devolverte las millas lo cual es una verdadera locura. Aguno ya cambió o reprogramo pasajes con AR? Ustedes que van a hacer con su viaje a Europa, van a esperar?

    • jlcota dice:

      ¡Qué garrón! Estamos próximos a ver qué hacemos, tenemos emisiones con Alitalia vía Smiles, AR vía AR Plus e Iberia vía Iberia Plus.

    • liliB dice:

      Viajábamos el 2/8 a Europa… esperando que AR nos cancele el vuelo!!

    • Celeste dice:

      Yo re programe a punta cana, 4 pasajes con millas y como no estaba cancelado tuve que pagar 1400 por dif de impuestos, considerando que los lugares con millas promocionales a veces son escasos, lo cambié igual para fines de nov con vuelta en diciembre.. tarde 3 horas pero lo logré y me respondieron más rápido por mp de face

      • Luciano dice:

        Buen dato el de Face Celeste, no se si esperar que habiliten los telefonos, tengo hasta el 23/8 para tomar una decisión, la verdad que la comunicación por wapp no me gustan, no hay posibilidad de un ida y vuelta fluido, parece como que le contestan a varios a la vez o te dejan colgado varios minutos y despues responden todo muy basico sin detalles. Gracias.

    • ezequiel dice:

      Irias ahora a un pais que tiene miles de muertos por dia? Guau

    • Sandra dice:

      Luciano yo tengo pasaje a Europa por AR para el 31 de julio les escribí anoche por whatsap y me contestaron enseguida( 10 minutos) te evacuan.todas las dudas . Mandales tu número de reserva. Mucha suerte!

  2. Ale dice:

    Guauuu, Luciano que valiente, viajar con esta pandemia jaja.
    Yo hasta que esto no termine o en su defecto no haya vacuna, ni loca jaja.
    Tengo esperanzas…en Junio del año próximo quiero imaginar que podremos sí o sí.
    Pero tengo unas ganas locas de viajar! Por favor, que se pueda por el país o Brasil aunque sea para Noviembre o Diciembre. No sé si es peor el coronavirus o la abstinencia de viajes jaja. Bromita, prefiero viajar tranquila con mi flia. pero me muero de las ganas…

  3. Victor dice:

    El tema es que con el nuevo protocolo que los aviones van a ir medio vacíos los precios de los pasajes van a aumentar al doble, no? Es lo que está pasando con los vuelos internos en Europa.

  4. johnnienickk dice:

    Quede varado en Brasil, sinceramente todo esto me conmocionó, a seguir esperando que las fronteras abran para darnos una vuelta por Europa con mi novia, espero que Positano no nos haga esperar más.

  5. José dice:

    Cruzando los dedos. Tengo vuelo a Roma en septiembre!

  6. Julian dice:

    Buenas. Hay vuelos ya funcionando. Mi cuñada viajó de madrid a San Pablo la semana pasada. Estimó que serán acotados y con menos frecuencias pero vuelos ya comenzaron.

  7. Sebas dice:

    Hola, igual el problema para nosotros es que están cerradas las fronteras hasta el 31-08. Latam ya nos canceló el vuelo que teníamos para el 22 de julio. Sds.

  8. maria dice:

    tengo vuelo en septiembre el 1….
    a la India

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