European Commission proposes opening borders for Balkans on 1 July

The European Commission has recommended on Thursday the gradual opening of the European Union's external borders by July 1st for foreign citizens, taking into account the epidemiological situation.

The commission has proposed that the EU entry ban be lifted for those countries, which testify that the area of the Coronavirus spreading situation is manageable.

In the European Commission's proposal, restrictions have been required to be lifted for all Western Balkan states: Kosovo, Albania, Northern Macedonia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia.

The Commission has argued this requirement, with the fact that their “epidemiological status is similar or even better than in the EU”.

According to him, this recommendation is also in line with the European Commission's expressed readiness to include closely Western Balkan countries in the implementation of the guide for removing restrictive measures in the fight against pandemic.

The recommendation to resume work on diplomatic and consular representations for visa giving is also included.

As far as other countries are concerned, the Commission has proposed that decisions be conditioned with the epidemiological situation in them, with the possibility of testing, monitoring of infected persons, as well as the restrictions those countries have on entering and emerging EU citizens.

Among other things, it has been required that after July 1st all border controls between the countries of the European bloc apply to students and seasonal workers, as well as from June 15th.