The federal government is preparing an end to the worldwide travel warning for tourists for 15 European countries from June 15, if the development of the corona pandemic allows it. In addition to Germany's 26 partner countries in the European Union, these include Great Britain, which has left the EU and the four countries in the Schengen area that are not subject to border controls, which are not members of the EU: Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein.
This emerges from the draft for a key point paper entitled "Criteria for the Facilitation of Inner-European Tourism", which may possibly be decided on Wednesday in the cabinet and is available to the German Press Agency.
Travel warnings should be replaced by individual travel advice
Federal Foreign Minister Heiko Maas (SPD) issued the worldwide travel warning on March 17 – a step that has so far been unique. This is not a travel ban, but does allow cancellations of booked trips. According to the plan, the travel warning is to be replaced by individual travel information that shows risks for each individual country.
Until now, travel warnings had only been issued when there was a risk to life and limb, especially in war zones such as Syria or Afghanistan. In the past few weeks, more than 240,000 tourists stranded due to cut flight and ferry connections have been brought back to Germany in an unprecedented campaign.
Cancellation of the travel warning shortly before the holiday season
The lifting of the travel warning should now give the start signal for cross-border summer holidays in Europe just in time for the holiday season. One is guided by the idea that "the revival of tourism is important for travelers and the German travel industry as well as for economic stability in the respective target countries", says the largely coordinated draft from the Federal Foreign Office.
In order to ensure the best possible protection for tourists against corona infection, the Federal Government in the EU wants to work for a number of common criteria. Among other things, it suggests that the upper limit of 50 new infections per 100,000 inhabitants be taken over by the other European countries within seven days. In Germany, if this limit is exceeded, anti-corona measures that have already been abolished will be reintroduced.
Countries should develop anti-corona concepts
In addition, the individual countries are to develop "sustainable concepts" for compliance with distance rules and for hand hygiene, for wearing masks and for ventilation and disinfection of rooms. The protection concepts should also contain plans in the event of the illness of holidaymakers and demonstrate sufficient test capacities, quarantine and treatment options. In addition, the recommendations of the EU Commission for the safety of passengers and personnel in means of transport such as airplanes have to be implemented, according to the paper from the Foreign Ministry.
The European Commission should develop a procedure for evaluating the protective measures taken. On this basis, the responsible federal ministries then want to issue "amicable recommendations on protective measures". The relationship between the risk of infection and the protective measures taken should be assessed as well as the regional differences in the individual countries.
What about entering Germany?
Since departure and entry are related, Federal Interior Minister Horst Seehofer (CSU) also feels addressed here. Because intra-European travel will not work as a one-way street. That means: If Germans go to Italy again or fly, Italians will also be able to come back to Germany.
And what about the EU-wide entry restrictions for people from third countries, which also apply until mid-June? If these are extended in general, it could be that travel between EU countries is possible again, entries from non-EU countries, which may be significantly less affected by the pandemic, but remain prohibited.
In any case, Seehofer wants a regulation that is logical and easy to understand for citizens. This is also one of the reasons why the consultations can drag on a bit. Another indication of this: a meeting of the so-called Corona Cabinet, which, according to government spokesman Steffen Seibert, should also have covered intra-European travel, was canceled this Monday. The reason given was that the upcoming decisions were not yet "ready for decision".