(TAN): The Schengen Area will open its external borders to travellers from outside of the bloc starting July 1.
The European Commission will allow visitors from non-European Union and non-Schengen countries to enter the territory gradually and in phases, High Representative Josep Borrell said at the College of Commissioners meeting.
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“The lifting of temporary travel restrictions at external borders will come at a second stage. In this respect, later this week, the College will adopt its assessment of travel restrictions and will put forward an approach for the gradual and partial lifting of these restrictions as of the 1st of July, with certain third countries, taking into account a number of principles and criteria, and based on a common coordinated approach by Member States, supported by the Commission,” he said.
Travellers from outside of the Schengen Area will be able to travel to the bloc after almost four months as restrictions slowly begin to lift.
The College of commissioners will meet again later this week to discuss how the withdrawal agreement will be carried out.
[ALSO READ: COVID-19 travel – Holidaying in Europe could be different this summer]
Meanwhile, several European Union member states have started to relax temporary nonessential travel restrictions on internal borders, with many of them looking to restore free travel within the bloc by the end of this month – the European Union Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson had recently said that all internal border restrictions in the Union would be lifted by June-end, as per reports.
“I personally believe that we will return to the full functioning of the Schengen area and freedom of movement of citizens no later than the end of the month of June,” the Commissioner said.
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