HumbleBee

Source? IATA still shows Croatia as no entry to foreigners.

Badenoch

Exactly how does the EU "not allow" an independent sovereign nation to reopen?

How is it not prescribing when the Commission publicly declares there will be a "summer tourist season?"

LondonElite

Which way do you want it? The EU can't force anybody to 'open'. I know you know that from the Brexit thread. Your second sentence is just silly. The EU can't declare that there will be a summer tourist season. It's feel-good talk, nothing more. I know you know that too, but you like poking the bear with your stick.

GUWonder

By getting enough of the EU countries to support a ban of sort at the Schengen area’s external borders.


By being an expression of sentiment of the most relevant EU member states. The EC can’t on its own whim stop cross-border traffic that goes directly between EU member states when the EU member states are fine with the internal border crossing.

Epicura

Can we perhaps stay on topic? This thread is about reopening internal EU borders for European citizens.

This is not about opening up Europe for tourists from 3d countries.

mcbg1

Iceland is opening to ALL countries. Relevant to this thread.

The_Bouncer

This dog and pony show in Iceland sounds quite interesting. I don't see any reason why it can't go ahead, as long as they put masks on the dog and the pony.

When is it and how do I buy tickets for it? The cheap seats will do, because with social distancing I probably wouldn't be allowed very close to the action anyway.

The only thing I'm wondering is why they would be bring a dead horse into it? Is the horse going to be served to patrons for dinner, disguised as beef?

Badenoch

Except at least one EU Commissioner has declared there will be a summer tourist season and the rest of the Commission doesn't appear to be challenging the statement.

If it's "feel-good talk, nothing more" it is then fair to put the statement by the EU Commision in the same category as Trump saying the churches would be open at Easter.

8420PR

The problem is the EU and world is splitting into 3 bubbles:
​​​​​​
(1) Countries that will do whatever possible to stop COVID re-entering their country. These countries (e.g. Greece, Czech Republic, Denmark, China, NZ, Australia, Vietnam, Singapore and more) took strong measures early on, taking significant economic impact to save lives. They are now able to reopen their economies to 90%, with international travel and tourism the long term casualty.
(2) Countries that intend on letting the virus spread throughout the population. These countries (e.g. Sweden, Netherlands, US) intend to live with the virus, and use on/off social distancing to manage the infection through the population.
(3) Countries not yet declared or decided.


It is interesting to see the price that countries put on peoples lives. How much can I pay you to lose a parent, friend or partner? I'm not sure if you've seen television images of hospitals in Wuhan, Italy, Spain, France, London and New York? Treating COVID-19 like the seasonal flu will bring much worse images, as well as a significantly reduced economy.

Epicura

No it's not because Iceland is not a EU member state. The communication from yesterday was a EU Commission statement regarding the reopening of internal EU borders and how any kind of tourism for EU citizens could start up (supporting recovery of EU tourism).

All the relevant docs:

https://ec.europa.eu/info/live-work-...us-pandemic_en

mcbg1

Doesn't change the fact Iceland is re-opening to ALL tourists. And tourists entering Iceland will then be able to enter other EU countries.

The_Bouncer

Certain EU countries may well try to get some kind of tourist season going, but I can see it being pretty halfarsed to be honest.

There will be so much theatre, so many hoops to jump through and so many things still closed, that it just won't be worth it for most people.

​​​​Many business owners will also decide that, with all the regulations, it's just not worth opening up.

​​​​​They might try, but unless there is a significant loosening of regulations by many countries and a significant return of public confidence, it's going to be a pretty sorry show.

Dan1113

Iceland is in Schengen and part of EU freedom of movement. It won't be able to reopen to non EU as it would be a leak into Schengen. So it'll all depend on the collective Schengen decision.

Dieuwer

...unless Iceland is kicked out of Schengen.

Dan1113

Iceland will follow the rules, it has no interest in having to end the Nordic passport Union, which can't continue without all five Nordics as Schengen members.