{"id":1456,"date":"2020-09-08T01:00:36","date_gmt":"2020-09-08T01:00:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/businessner.com\/?p=1456"},"modified":"2022-03-25T19:21:57","modified_gmt":"2022-03-25T19:21:57","slug":"european-commission-seeks-coordination-of-covid-19-movement-restrictions-in-eu","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/businessner.com\/european-commission-seeks-coordination-of-covid-19-movement-restrictions-in-eu\/","title":{"rendered":"European Commission seeks coordination of Covid-19 movement restrictions in EU"},"content":{"rendered":"

The European Commission recently adopted a proposal to ensure that Covid-19 measures taken by the 27-member states that restrict free movement are coordinated and communicated.<\/p>\n

The European Commission’s proposal<\/a> sets out four key areas where member states should work together.<\/p>\n

First, common criteria and thresholds for member countries when deciding whether to introduce travel restrictions should be established. Second, there should be a mapping of common criteria using an agreed color code. Third, a common framework for measures applied to travelers from high-risk areas and lastly, for clear and timely information to the public about any restrictions.<\/p>\n

Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Stella Kyriakides said:<\/p>\n

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\u201cToday we propose to our Member States a well-coordinated, predictable, and transparent approach to travel restrictions where these are needed, always placing the protection of public health first. We must avoid further disruption of already fragile economies and additional uncertainty for citizens who have made huge sacrifices. They expect this from us after so many months living with COVID-19.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Commissioner for Justice, Didier Reynders, said in a statement<\/a> that the right to move freely in the EU has been heavily impacted by the pandemic.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor the many citizens who rely on frictionless travel every day, the cacophony of national rules in the EU is overwhelming. We want to simplify things. We are proposing straightforward criteria, applicable without discrimination, which are easy to follow by the Member States and allow to inform Europeans properly.\u201d<\/p>\n

Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson said that since March, the EU has developed and delivered a solid foundation of internal and external border control recommendations for its 27-member bloc to follow.<\/p>\n

\u201cToday’s measures build on this track record so that we can fully benefit from our Schengen area. That is why we want a clear \u2018green, orange, red’ system and not a kaleidoscope of individual measures,\u201d Johansson said.<\/p>\n

European Commission: Wide discrepancy on national criteria<\/h2>\n

According to the commissioners, there is currently a wide discrepancy between national criteria for introducing measures that restrict free movement in the European Union.<\/p>\n

To address this, the European Commission proposed that each EU member takes into account the following criteria when putting in place any restrictive measures:<\/p>\n