Скачать или смотреть Postponed - Video conference of transport ministers, 28 September 2020. Andreas Scheuer EUdebates

Press statement by Andreas Scheuer, German Minister of Transport and Digital Infrastructure.
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Andreas Scheuer eudebates the AGENDA. The meeting was suspended for technical reasons and will be rescheduled to another date.

Agenda highlights
COVID-19 contingency plan for the freight sector

The transport sector has been heavily impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak. The epidemiological situation and the slowdown of the economy as a result of lock-downs have resulted in a drastic reduction of transport demand and services across the EU territory with economic consequences for the sector. As early as in March 2020, EU member states agreed on the need to have a coordinated approach to support the sector.

During the video conference, EU transport ministers will hold a policy debate to discuss a pandemic contingency plan for the European freight transport sector. The aim of the discussion is to provide impetus for further steps to improve the sector's preparedness for future pandemics.

COVID-19: travel and transport

EU reopens borders to certain non-EU countries
The EU has been working together with its member states to contain the spread of the virus and support national healthcare systems to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

To slow down the transmission of the virus, on 17 March 2020 EU leaders agreed on a coordinated temporary restriction of non-essential travel to the EU that was enforced until 30 June 2020. The travel of European citizens to countries outside the EU with a high epidemiological risk is also discouraged.

From 1 July 2020, member states started lifting travel restrictions for residents of some third countries. The list was last modified on 7 August 2020 and includes 11 countries:
#Australia
#Canada
#Georgia
#Japan
#New Zealand
#Rwanda
#South Korea
#Thailand
#Tunisia
#Uruguay
#China, subject to confirmation of reciprocity
Lifting of travel restrictions: Council reviews the list of third countries (press release, 7 August 2020)
A number of measures were put in place by EU countries to contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, such as the introduction of internal border controls or travel restrictions within the EU.

As the overall health situation improved, all member states started lifting some of the measures that have been applied at national or regional level. On 15 April 2020, Charles Michel and Ursula von der Leyen, presidents of the European Council and the European Commission respectively, presented a joint European roadmap towards lifting COVID-19 containment measures:

Joint roadmap towards lifting COVID-19 containment measures
This includes the gradual lifting of internal border controls and the restoration of the free movement of persons which has been limited due to the pandemic. The EU is working on a mechanism to ensure further coordination amongst member states regarding restrictions still in place or on any further measures to respond to the evolving situation.

A coordinated European approach
Since the beginning of the pandemic member states have adopted a number of measures to protect public health, some of which have had a significant impact on the freedom of movement, such as the introduction of internal border controls or travel restrictions within the EU.

The decision of whether to introduce restrictions to free movement to protect public health remains the responsibility of member states. However, these restrictions have to comply with the principles of proportionality and non-discrimination as described in the EU treaties.

To avoid fragmentation and disruption of services and to ensure transparency and predictability for citizens and businesses, the Council is working on adopting a coordinated approach.

Discussions are taking place within the Council on five areas, to assess the scope for closer coordination at EU level on:

data provided by member states
criteria and indicators used to analyse the epidemiological risk
risk assessment and designation of risk areas
measures to be triggered
communication of measures taken
On 4 September 2020, the European Commission presented a proposal for a Council recommendation on a coordinated approach to restrictions to freedom of movement.

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