BREAKING: Now official, Americans remain banned from EU.
By majority vote, EU countries just agreed to allow only these citizens in starting tomorrow: 🇯🇵🇰🇷🇨🇦🇦🇺🇳🇿🇷🇼🇷🇸🇲🇪🇬🇪🇺🇾🇹🇭🇲🇦🇩🇿🇹🇳
Borders in theory open between countries in EU single market (🇪🇺27+🇨🇭🇳🇴🇮🇸🇱🇮🇬🇧)
🇺🇸🇷🇺🇧🇷 banned.
By majority vote, EU countries just agreed to allow only these citizens in starting tomorrow: 🇯🇵🇰🇷🇨🇦🇦🇺🇳🇿🇷🇼🇷🇸🇲🇪🇬🇪🇺🇾🇹🇭🇲🇦🇩🇿🇹🇳
Borders in theory open between countries in EU single market (🇪🇺27+🇨🇭🇳🇴🇮🇸🇱🇮🇬🇧)
🇺🇸🇷🇺🇧🇷 banned.
Official adoption will come later today but there's already a qualified majority for this list - nobody can veto.
It will be updated every two weeks. China may be added if it grants reciprocal access to EU citizens.
It will be updated every two weeks. China may be added if it grants reciprocal access to EU citizens.
An important caveat - these are countries that individual EU member states *can* allow in, it doesn't mean they have to. It will be up to each government.
But the fact that this list took so long to agree suggests every country intends to follow it.
But the fact that this list took so long to agree suggests every country intends to follow it.
Likewise, an individual EU country could legally allow in people coming from countries not on the approved list.
But this would cause a serious diplomatic incident and might require reimposing borders between EU Schengen countries (normally there is no passport check).
But this would cause a serious diplomatic incident and might require reimposing borders between EU Schengen countries (normally there is no passport check).
Another important caveat: this in theory only concerns entry bans, not quarantine requirements.
There still may be quarantine requirements between EU single market countries (Greece & UK for example), or with the 14 countries on the list, which would make tourism impractical.
There still may be quarantine requirements between EU single market countries (Greece & UK for example), or with the 14 countries on the list, which would make tourism impractical.
Waiting for official announcement after vote - could come at 14h CET.
Still possible something could change before then, this is a fluid list after all. But very unlikely at this point.
Still possible something could change before then, this is a fluid list after all. But very unlikely at this point.
The European Council has just published this statement with a full explanation.
The ban exclusion will apply to citizens *and residents* of these 14 countries. So if you're an American living in Japan, you can come as long as you can prove residence.
consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press…
The ban exclusion will apply to citizens *and residents* of these 14 countries. So if you're an American living in Japan, you can come as long as you can prove residence.
consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press…
End result is much shorter than the 52-country list drafted for consideration last week.
May be for political reasons. A smaller list causes less offence to the excluded countries (🇺🇸 in particular). 🇨🇳's conditionality also seems political.
More here: forbes.com/sites/davekeat…
May be for political reasons. A smaller list causes less offence to the excluded countries (🇺🇸 in particular). 🇨🇳's conditionality also seems political.
More here: forbes.com/sites/davekeat…
So to recap: The EU's #COVID19 entry ban on non-EU-citizens remains in place, but from tomorrow residents of 14 countries (🇨🇦🇦🇺🇳🇿🇯🇵🇰🇷🇷🇼🇷🇸🇲🇪🇬🇪🇺🇾🇹🇭🇲🇦🇩🇿🇹🇳 and maybe 🇨🇳 if they reciprocate) can be exempt.
But the start of this new policy will vary by EU country. Check before flying!
But the start of this new policy will vary by EU country. Check before flying!
