Europe travel ban proposal from European Commission is as much about economics and politics as public health. Why do I say that? /1
From a public health perspective, scientists say travel bans have limited effect in stopping spread of virus. And WHO already described Europe as épicentre of #coronavirus last week. The proposed travel ban would also have many exceptions to it which is WHY /2
A number of EU countries that have already imposed travel restrictions on own European neighbours eg Germany, Poland, Czech Republic likely to say the Commission-proposed ban doesn’t go far enough for them. They’re likely to want to keep their unilateral border restrictions /3
Which wouldn’t help another reason the Commission proposed the EU-wide travel ban - preserving image of EU unity which is currently being damaged by (as in time of migration crisis) one EU country limiting access to the citizens of EU neighbours /4
Commission also hopes to encourage countries to lift travel restrictions on EU neighbours bc it interrupts free flow of goods through single market w buildups + slow downs at EU internal borders. Bad for business when the euro zone is already under pressure over #coronavirus /5
But too crass to say this is end of EU. Leaders of individual EU countries are putting their populations first. Would take too long to coordinate a fully agree own EU response at all levels on #coronavirus This crisis puts pressure on EU but this does not mean EU is finished /5
Example is EU leaders agreeing to share masks, protective clothing amongst each other /6
