This archive report was first published on 30 June 2020.
As the world continues to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic, the European Union is preparing to reopen its external borders to 15 countries outside of the bloc. However, the list of countries that will be allowed entry may not include the United States and Kenya, due to their high infection rates.
According to diplomats, the EU governments have been given until lunchtime Tuesday to agree on the list of 15 countries allowed entry. The proposed list includes China, where the virus originated, but only on the condition of reciprocal arrangements.
The other 14 countries on the list are Algeria, Australia, Canada, Georgia, Japan, Montenegro, Morocco, New Zealand, Rwanda, Serbia, South Korea, Thailand, Tunisia, and Uruguay. These countries have coronavirus infection rates equal to or better than the EU, which is a key criterion for entry.
EU officials hope that having the recommendations in place will mean that member states will reopen their borders in lockstep. However, border control is ultimately decided by each member state, rather than at an EU level in Brussels.
The EU borders were closed in March after the bloc saw its COVID-19 infection rates grow exponentially. The US now has the highest number of confirmed infections and the highest number of deaths caused by COVID-19 of any country in the world, according to Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center.
It is highly unlikely that the framework will be changed any time soon, which would mean a dramatic turnaround is required in the US' infection rate if it's to be considered in any future decision. The EU is expected to review the decision every two weeks.
Member states are expected to approve the list and the guidelines by qualified majority on Tuesday, rather than by a unanimous decision. A qualified majority requires that 15 of the 27 member states vote in favour.
EU officials have been quick to point out that decisions on who can and cannot enter the bloc are not political, but based on science that allows member states to keep their citizens safe. However, they are bracing for the reaction of US President Donald Trump, who has previously said critical things about the EU and might see the decision as politically motivated.
