The Vice-President of the European Commission, Vera Jourova, announced on Wednesday 29 April, at the end of the College meeting, that the institution planned to publish guidelines “by mode of transport” by “mid-May”, in anticipation of the resumption of activities in the sector.
These guidelines should be accompanied by a communication on tourism.
The Commissioners considered that the travel restriction should be lifted as soon as possible, avoiding any discrimination on grounds of nationality and taking into account epidemiological developments, “to allow the tourism industry to recover”, Ms Jourova stressed.
This lifting of restrictions will need to be accompanied by specific health and safety guidelines and targeted measures based on the recommendations of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), advocates the Commission.
“The College reviewed the various instruments designed to provide short-term support to the sector and recalled the need to accompany these measures with strategic reflection on the long-term competitiveness of the sector”, the Vice-President also said.
The European Ministers of Transport were to decide on the content of the Commission’s “Guidelines for restoring transport services, connectivity and free movement” (see EUROPE 12476/3) in a meeting by videoconference this Wednesday. The meeting was still in progress as we went to press.
“Today we will move forward discussing measures and proposals aimed at reactivate the sector, and I believe that the exchange of shared experiences will greatly contribute to a better overview of all the options and risks we now face”, Croatian Minister of Transport Oleg Butković told the press before the meeting started. (Original version in French by Agathe Cherki)