Europe

Tourism returns as second half of 2020 begins

The second half of 2020 began on Wednesday, as tourism returned with further opening of economies.

International travel has resumed as airports reopened months after strict aviation restrictions were imposed to stem the spread of COVID-19. Close to 300 tourists on board two flights from Ukraine on Wednesday landed in Egypt’s Red Sea resort cities of Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh.

Upon arrival at Hurghada Airport, the passengers were greeted with flowers, souvenirs, and folk music and dancing.

Read alsoWorld tourism fell by 97% in April and by 44% up to that month, according to the World Tourism Organization

Egypt reported on Wednesday 1,503 new cases of COVID-19, taking its total tally since mid-February to 69,814, with 3,034 deaths.

Meanwhile, Lebanon’s Beirut airport also resumed operation after four months of being closed, with measures taken to detect suspected infections in place.

At Istanbul Airport, Turkey’s largest airport, the first COVID-19 test center for international passengers was opened, with test results to be delivered within two hours at a cost of around 16 U.S. dollars.

The Turkish government has been gradually relaxing COVID-19 restrictions, with internet cafes and gaming halls across the country reopening alongside precautionary measures, such as regular regular disinfection, mandatory wearing of masks, and social distancing measures.

On Wednesday, Turkey reported 1,192 new cases and 19 more deaths, taking its total infections and deaths to 201,098 and 5,150, respectively.

In Europe, the first tourist train from the Czech Republic in months arrived in Croatia’s coastal city of Rijeka on Wednesday morning. The 550 passengers were greeted by Croatian Tourism Minister Gari Capelli and Rijeka Mayor Vojko Obersnel.

Other European countries in which the coronavirus pandemic has slowed down are also expected to see a rebound in tourism.

In Italy, a government policy intended to revive tourism took effect on Wednesday.

Read alsoHungary will not allow entry of non-EU citizens, says Orbán

According to a promotional program put in place until the end of this year, low- and medium-income households, couples, and individuals who spend holidays at Italian tourist facilities can benefit from a financial bonus of up to 500 euros (560 U.S. dollars).

In Finland, a large-scale open-air market and dining area located on Helsinki’s iconic 3,000-square-meter Senate Square opened to the public on Wednesday, in a move to encourage the catering and tourism industries.

With 480 seats in total, a diverse selection of food and drinks, including breakfast, lunch, fine dining, cocktails and craft beers from local microbreweries, are to be served daily on a “Super Terrace” through the end of August.

After more than three months of closure, cinemas reopened in Belgium ,as it entered Phase 4 of its de-confinement measures on July 1.

Cultural and leisure events in the country have been allowed to resume, with up to 200 people allowed indoors and 400 people outdoors, provided that health and safety rules are followed.

July 2, 2020

Budapest has highest rent prices in the region?

It costs more to rent a three-bedroom apartment in Budapest than it does in Brussels, according to new statistics.

The prices increased the most in Budapest in Europe compared to 2018, as apartments were rented out at a cost last year that is 15 per cent higher than the year before, according to new Eurostat data, reported Index.

The new statistics do not cover all rental apartments, Eurostat examined the prices of homes rented by international officials, so these prices reflect well-equipped flats in good condition. However, the prices of these homes affect the whole market. The apartments in Budapest which were included in the survey are located in the 1st. 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th, 7th and 12th districts, and put into three categories based on size, 40-60, 60-80 and 110-130 square meters.

Budapest has the third more expensive city centre to rent in, in our region, after Prague and Vienna. Bratislava, Bucharest and Warsaw follow them.

While it is less expensive to rent a three-bedroom apartment in Brussels, – which would cost around €1300 – than in Budapest – which would cost €1550 –, one and two-bedroom apartments cost slightly less in Budapest – €800 and €1050 respectively –, than in Brussels – €850 and €1060 respectively.

The prices in Budapest are still relatively low compared to international rates despite increasing by 15 per cent –, one of the most massive increases in Europe – last year. Vienna is just ahead of Budapest in terms of maintenance and equipment of the apartments.

London, Paris and Dublin are the three most expensive European cities, while the cheapest three are Bucharest, Warsaw and Sofia. The prices in London are roughly twice as much as of the Hungarian capital.

Rent only decreased in two places according to the statistics. The prices decreased by three per cent in Vienna and by two per cent in Bucharest last year compared to 2018. The rates increased by two-eight per cent in other cities.

This year’s rental situation was significantly affected by the coronavirus outbreak. It changed the prices and constructions of rentals in favour of the tenants, as the prices started decreasing considerably due to the pandemic.

Read alsoLooking for a good place of investment? – Real estate prices started to decrease in Budapest

July 1, 2020

How will the second wave of COVID-19 affect travelling in Europe?

Just as countries are starting to reopen and go back to a somewhat-normal routine, new coronavirus cases have started to crop up. Croatia has already re-closed its borders to some countries, while Germany and Spain put regions under lockdown.

Croatia

In the past week, Croatia has seen a surge of new cases in two spots of the country, so they have decided to impose travel restrictions again, starting Thursday, June 25. People from Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Serbia are no longer able to get into the country.

Visitors from Austria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia are still allowed in, without any restrictions or conditions, while other EU residents will have to prove they have a good reason for visiting.

Austria

Austria lifted travel restrictions on the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Liechtenstein, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Switzerland on June 4th, then extended that lift to 32 other countries on June 21st.

People travelling from Portugal, Sweden, or the UK, however, have to either quarantine for two weeks or show a valid, negative test result.

Germany

Two German municipalities, with nearly 400,000 people, have been put under lockdown yet again, as COVID-19 cases drastically increased. The resurgence of cases is thought to be linked to a slaughterhouse. Regions are reacting differently to the new outbreak, with some banning visitors from the affected regions.

How this will affect travel from outside Germany is unclear, as they opened all of their borders on June 15. They may try to stop the spread with lockdown measures and may restrict travel in just those regions, but as of now, Germany can be entered freely.

Spain

Three districts in Aragon have been forced under lockdown again, right after Spain opened its border and ended their state of emergency on June 21.

Spain originally planned to reopen borders to non-EU countries as well on July 1, but this may be pushed back if cases keep surging in numbers. As for now, they have not restricted countries because of the new cases, but they keep being cautious.

Portugal

Portugal’s borders are open to all travellers, except for their neighbouring Spain and Italy. Borders are planned to reopen to Spain on July 1; however, this decision may be affected by the rise of coronavirus cases in Spain.

Bulgaria

Bulgaria is open, as of now, until June 30, to citizens of the EU, Bosnians, the British, Montenegrins, and Serbs, but travel from outside Europe is not allowed.

Much like in Austria, people from Portugal, Sweden, and the UK have to do a two-week quarantine.

Denmark

Denmark originally planned to reopen to the EU, as well as Schengen countries and the UK, on June 27, as it was only open to visitors from Germany, Iceland, and Norway. Their condition for reopening was that there are less than 20 infections per 100,000 inhabitants each week. If infections rise above 30 per 100,000 inhabitants, then entry to the country will be banned again. With new cases rising, this plan seems solid in protecting the country from more coronavirus cases.

Finland

Finland has so far allowed travel without border checks from Denmark, Estonia, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, and Norway.

Their plan is to open the country to Austria, Croatia, Cyprus, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Liechtenstein, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Switzerland from July 13. They will be reviewing the list on July 10, and if the countries have a number of cases less than 8 per 100,000 inhabitants, then they will be able to enter. Whether restrictions from people outside of Europe will be lifted as well is not yet known.

Malta

Malta is amongst the few countries that are still completely closed. They plan to open their borders to Austria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, parts of Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland, Slovakia, parts of Spain, and Switzerland on July 1.

Read alsoRyanair to restart Budapest services to 40 destinations

Keleti railway station Budapest train MÁV

Read alsoMore international train services resuming from July

June 26, 2020

Cafe culture returning to pandemic-stricken Europe

On a sunny afternoon in June, Ermin Cetvrtak was sitting in a wooden coffee house in Sarajevo, capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, sipping Bosnian coffee from a small copper cup and enjoying time in retirement.

About 100 meters north of the city’s Latin Bridge, cafes dot the narrow streets. Cetvrtak liked to kill countless mornings and evenings in the neighborhood’s cafes before the COVID-19 pandemic captured Europe early this year.

Read alsoTravel back in time with Budapest’s classic coffee houses − PHOTOS

Today, his coffee still tastes the same and the waiter still greets him like an old friend, but for Cetvrtak, all this feels a little different from what it used to be. A white face mask covers his mouth and nose and in a similar fashion the waiter also protects himself from virus exposure.

“Before the pandemic, I came here four or five times a week to chat with old friends. Now it’s only once a week,” he said, “but I’m here anyway, that’s the point.”

CAFE CULTURE BACK

As the grip of the COVID-19 pandemic began to loosen across Europe last month, the “cafe culture” that the coronavirus had threatened with extinction gradually reappeared in the streets of European cities like Paris, Rome, Vienna, Vilnius and Sarajevo.

Cafe de Flore, one of the oldest coffee houses in Paris, reopened to customers at the beginning of June. French President Emmanuel Macron celebrated the day with a joyful note on social media. He said that the resumption of business in cafes and restaurants marked the return of happy times for the French.

The celebratory mood was no different elsewhere. In Europe, the cafe is a place where the literati draw inspiration, and where the locals enjoy their everyday life.

“There is no literature without a coffeehouse,” Hungarian writer Sándor Márai once said.

When Italy’s cafes and restaurants reopened for business in late May, people returned in droves to kick off their day with a cup of espresso. Someone noted on social media that “This is a ritual we have missed, celebrating life returning to normal.”

Read alsoCNN Travel: Budapest’s New York Café is the world’s most beautiful one – photo gallery

NEW RULES

As the pandemic is still raging in Europe, cafes and restaurants are reopening at different speeds. In certain regions, rules are still in force on how many guests can cafes serve indoors and on the mandatory use of face masks.

In France’s so-called “green zones,” where the virus is least actively circulating, cafes have resumed indoors dining, but in the remaining “orange zones” only outdoor terraces are available to seat customers.

In Austria, cafes are no longer allowed to use bread baskets and they no longer provide newspapers to customers (both are prone to spreading the virus), although drinking coffee while reading newspapers has always been a ritual there.

In the middle of June, the Tazza d’Oro coffee shop near the Pantheon in Rome still followed the social distancing rules, which requires customers to keep a distance of at least one meter from each other.

“Before the lockdown, we often had a line of customers waiting outside because demand was high,” Laura Birrozzi from the cafe told Xinhua.

“Now we still have a line, but only because of the social distancing rules. We can only serve a few customers at the bar at a time. When one customer leaves, we let another one through the door.”

SAVE CAFES

Despite the ongoing relaxation of the coronavirus restrictions, the recovery of the “cafe economy” is bound to be slow as the pandemic has exposed the fragility of this culture.

Prior to the outbreak, the Tazza d’Oro in Rome used up 20 to 30 kilograms of beans to brew coffee each day, while the current daily consumption there is a mere three to six kilograms. Meanwhile, in Belgium, a third or even half of the country’s coffee shops are facing bankruptcy, according to media reports.

The fate of the cafe industry is now hanging in the balance across Europe. The continent’s cafes are increasingly in need of being saved, and governments, businesses and customers alike are lining up to take action.

The municipal government of Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, has decided to allow cafes and restaurants to use public spaces (streets, squares, courtyards) for outdoor services. In summer, Vilnius turns into one huge outdoor cafe.

“Plazas, squares and streets — nearby cafes will be able to set up outdoor tables free of charge this season and thus conduct their activities during the quarantine. Just open up, work, retain jobs and keep Vilnius alive,” said Vilnius Mayor Remigijus Simasius.

June 26, 2020

WHO: Europe seeing resurgence of COVID-19

The World Health Organization (WHO)’s repeated warning of a possible resurgence of COVID-19 in the European region has now become a reality, Hans Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, said Thursday.

“Last week, Europe saw an increase in weekly cases for the first time in months,” Kluge said at a press conference here.

Read alsoEU “determined” to protect its external borders, says EU foreign policy chief

The WHO official noted that 30 countries in the region had seen increases in new cumulative cases over the past two weeks, and “in 11 of these countries, the accelerated transmission has led to a very significant resurgence.”

Poland, Germany, and Spain recently saw a resurgence of COVID-19 clusters at schools, coal mines, and food production facilities, according to Kluge.

Despite commending these countries for their “controlled, rapid and targeted interventions,” he warned that health systems are being brought to “the brink once again in Europe.”

Read alsoUK PM says 2-meter social distancing rule to be cut to “1 meter plus”

However, Kluge saw a light of hope in the messages he received from health ministers in Europe that more and more people were being socially responsible and “adhering to physical distancing and wearing facial masks.”

Moreover, Kluge urged authorities in the region to use digital tools wisely while building trust by respecting privacy and addressing the digital gap.

“The full potential of digital health is yet to be realized. It is about empowering people to make healthy lifestyle decisions to create a European culture of health,” he said.

June 25, 2020

WOW! Western think tank chose Budapest as the most business-friendly city in emerging Europe this year

Moreover, the Hungarian capital won in 2 categories out of the 8 and could precede Eastern European capitals and cities like Tbilisi, Łódz, Bucharest, Sofia, Tallinn, Warsaw, and Prague. Emerging Europe‘s founding partner said about Budapest that it “is a magnificent city with a great business ecosystem and a long history of innovative ideas”.

According to emerging-europe.com, Emerging Europe distributes awards in 18 categories, and one of them is the most business-friendly city of the year. The category looks at seven aspects: business climate, infrastructure and connectivity, smart solutions, a pool of talent, quality of life, local authorities’ support, and economic potential. Finally,

global location experts rank the cities taking part in the contest.

In this case, Emerging Europe invited 70 global location experts and foreign direct investment advisers to decide about the 75 cities in the emerging Europe region which are national capitals or have a population of more than 200,000. The region consists of the following countries: Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Ukraine.

“Budapest is a magnificent city with a great business ecosystem and a long history of innovative ideas,” Andrew Wrobel, Emerging Europe‘s founding partner, said about the Hungarian capital receiving the award. “It has an incredibly strong brand, and it’s no surprise that the location experts we asked to vote recognised that. But I am also delighted that several other cities caught their eye. We want to promote opportunities in the region’s cities, and one of the main reasons we organise this survey is to make location experts, who take important decisions regarding where to locate investment, take a long, hard look at the emerging Europe region. I think that this perception-based survey demonstrates just how much these experts already know about our region, and I am glad that we have taken a key role in bringing that about,” he added.

Budapest won by a wide margin

and was first in two subcategories, in Brand, as well as Local Authority Support. The other subcategories were won by Tbilisi (Economic Potential), Łódź (Business Climate), Bucharest (Pool of Talent), Sofia and Tallinn (Smart City Development), Warsaw (Infrastructure and Connectivity), and Prague (Quality of Life).

The Czech capital fell behind Budapest, while Warsaw, the capital of Poland, came third.

About the Georgian capital,

Tbilisi, experts said that it was one of the easiest places in the world in which to do business.

Therefore, it regularly tops the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business rankings for emerging Europe.

The Polish Łódź attracts investors with its good location, low cost of business activity, and qualified staff, the city’s mayor told Emerging Europe. The Estonian capital, Tallinn, won the subcategory of smart city development, which is not surprising since the Baltic state is one of the global leaders of digitalisation.

This is the third time Emerging Europe has distributed its awards, and they will announce more winners in the different categories later in June.

June 21, 2020

Denmark to ease travel restrictions to and from certain European states from June 27

Following an extraordinary meeting of the Foreign Policy Committee, the Danish government presented a new model for easing both border restrictions and travel guidelines, according to a foreign ministry press release on Thursday.

From June 27, Denmark will ease travel restrictions to and from certain European Union (EU) states, non-EU Schengen countries and the United Kingdom, said the press release.

According to the new model, to be “open” for Danish travelers, a country must have less than 20 infections per 100,000 inhabitants per week.

Read alsoWebsite on EU border reopenings has become available!

Once a country is open, its status could be changed to a “quarantine country” if its infections rise to 30 per 100,000 inhabitants in a week.

“In this way, entry and exit from Denmark can be done in a responsible way,” said Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod to Denmark’s TV 2.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs promised to produce by June 25 an updated list of the countries that are open for tourists, as well as a list of states where two-week quarantine is required upon return to Denmark.

With regard to the rest of the world, the Danish government has yet to produce a solution.

Read alsoBocuse d’Or: Denmark won, Hungary is the 12th – photos

“I am pleased that we can now take a significant step towards normalization and enable Danes to travel to more countries in Europe. We stand in a significantly better place in Denmark than we had dared to hope just a short time ago,” says Kofod.

Meanwhile, the Danish Patient Safety Authority on Thursday reported 18 cases of COVID-19 infection, which can be traced back to an aircraft that flew from Pakistan’s capital Islamabad to Copenhagen on June 6.

As of Thursday, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Denmark stood at 12,294, with 600 deaths, according to the latest count released by the Danish Statens Serum Institut.

June 18, 2020

Spain to reopen borders starting June 21

Spain will reopen its frontiers with the European Union (EU) countries — with the exception of Portugal — on June 21, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced in a televised press conference Sunday.

Sanchez made the announcement after holding a video meeting with the leaders of Spain’s 17 autonomous communities. Also from June 21, Spaniards will be able to move freely around their homeland with the expiry of the State of Alarm imposed since March.

Read alsoSpain starts to ease COVID-19 lockdown to boost economy

The prime minister had previously insisted that his country’s frontiers would remain closed with a 14-day quarantine imposed on arrivals from abroad until July 1.

The frontier with Portugal will reopen on July 1 (at Portugal’s request), while Spain will reopen its borders for arrivals from outside the Schengen area from July 11.

Sanchez explained the policy change by pointing to the positive evolution of his country’s efforts to control the coronavirus. No deaths have been reported in Spain by its Health Ministry for the past six days.

“It is a crucial moment that we have been preparing for,” explained Sanchez, adding that after July 1, there would be a “scaled” re-opening of the borders for non-EU nations that are in an “equal or better epidemiological” situation regarding the virus than Spain and which are willing to “act reciprocally.”

Read also43 African countries under border closure as COVID-19 cases top 225,000 continentwide

Sanchez’s announcement came a day before the start of a pilot scheme which will see over 10,000 German tourists visit the Balearic Islands as Spain looks to reopen its tourist industry, which has been hit especially hard by the coronavirus.

June 15, 2020

Health safety is top priority for Greece as tourism season starts

Greece is ready to welcome visitors again with health safety as the top priority in the new COVID-19 era, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Saturday during a visit to the Santorini Island.

This year’s summer tourism season opens on June 15 with the resumption of international flights for tourists to Athens and Thessaloniki airports, later than previous years due to the epidemic.

Mitsotakis gave a press conference to international media on Saturday on the picturesque Aegean Sea island to convey the message across the globe that Greece has taken all necessary measures for the reopening of tourism after this spring’s lockdown.

“We are opening up to visitors, but we are doing it with your safety as our utmost priority. We have worked very hard to ensure our guests will be safe and stay healthy,” Mitsotakis said.

“If at any stage we are faced with a localized outbreak, we have the medical and civil protection infrastructure in place to tackle it swiftly and effectively,” he stressed.

Read alsoEU countries agree on coordinated, non-discriminatory lifting of travel ban

The country was in full lockdown from March 23 until May 4 and in recent weeks is gradually entering the new normalcy, after managing to flatten the curve.

Tourism, one of the key motors for the Greek economy for decades, was one of the last sectors to restart.

As of June 15, travelers from 29 countries with positive epidemiological data, including China, will be subject to sample testing only upon arrival.

All other visitors from countries on the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) list of affected areas with a high risk of transmission of COVID-19 will, until June 30, have to be tested upon arrival and spend at least one night at a designated hotel at the expenses of the Greek state.

Read alsoEU leaders express unity in dealing with migrant flows after visiting Greek-Turkish border

As of July 1, Greece will fully open all its airports to flights from abroad and to all sailings from other countries. Seven overland border points will also reopen. Tourists will be subject only to random sampling.

Due to the pandemic, Greece expects this year only a fraction of the 33 million arrivals registered last year, Mitsotakis said, stressing that the country is seizing the opportunity to review its tourism model in the coming years to focus on sustainability as well.

Greece also aims to extend its tourism season, building more on its rich cultural heritage for travelers all year round and for those who have more interest in archaeological sites, like Chinese tourists, said the prime minister, when responding to a question by Xinhua.

“We hope there is not going to be a second pandemic wave so our plan is certainly to be able to extend our season…The more we can extend our season towards October or even November in terms of our summer product the better it will be,” Mitsotakis added.

The fusion between culture and tourism is for us a great opportunity to extend our season, he told Xinhua.

Before the press conference, Mitsotakis visited the archaeological site of Akrotiri, a prehistoric settlement that was destroyed by the eruption of Santorini’s volcano.

During a visit to the island’s general hospital, he was briefed on the readiness of the local healthcare system to cope with any potential cases.

According to the latest update from the Greek authorities on Saturday, a total of 3,112 confirmed infections of COVID-19, including 183 deaths, have been registered in Greece since Feb. 26, when the first case was diagnosed.

Four new infections and no deaths were reported within the past 24 hours.

June 14, 2020

Portugal not to resume flights to and from most non-EU countries until end of June

The Portuguese government announced on Saturday that commercial flights to and from most countries outside the European Union (EU) are not to resume until the end of this month as a measure to control the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a statement published in the Official Gazette of Portugal.

The new rules allow air traffic from countries associated with the Schengen area, such as Liechtenstein, Norway, Iceland and Switzerland, as well as Portuguese-speaking countries and the United Kingdom, the United States, Venezuela, Canada and South Africa.

Read alsoBorder openings: everything you need to know about the current restrictions in EU countries − Part 2

The restrictions also do not apply to nationals of the EU countries and states associated with the Schengen area, or those who have legal residence in one of these countries and those who travel for study reasons.

Portuguese airspace has been closed since the beginning of the state of emergency enacted on March 18 and extended till June 15.

In late May, Portugal’s flag carrier TAP Air Portugal already published its flight schedule for the coming two months, which involves 27 weekly flights in June and 247 in July.
Portugal has been planning for flights to EU members to start from June 15.

Read alsoHungary to extradite Football Leaks hacker to Portugal

The Portuguese government noted that the restrictive measures were implemented “taking into account the guidelines of the European Commission of 11 June 2020,” which coordinated the opening of the EU’s external borders “according to the evolution of the epidemiological situation.”

Portugal registers seven more deaths related to COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, bringing the toll to 1,512, while another 283 cases of infections have taken the tally to 36,463.

June 14, 2020

Budapest listed among Europe’s rudest cities?

Budapest is the third rudest city in Europe, according to a new survey by CEOWORLD.

The magazine conducted an online survey, from September to December 2019, where they asked 178,500 European adults to give their top five rudest European cities out of a list of 50 of the largest cities in Europe. CEOWORLD has now revealed the results.

The top five are Paris (36%), London (18%), Budapest (17.5%), Vienna (10.4%), and Amsterdam (9.6%).

It is not mentioned why or how the surveyed people picked their top five rudest cities; whether it was personal experiences, stories, or stereotypes they had heard. What do you think? Let us know in the comments below.

According to the survey, the most polite European city is Saint Petersburg, followed by Helsinki and Madrid in second place.

Read alsoPictures that highlight why you need to visit Hungary – Panoramas

Check out the whole list:

Paris (36%)
London (18%)
Budapest (17.5%)
Vienna (10.4%)
Amsterdam (9.6%)
Prague (9.2%)
Birmingham (8.9%)
Lyon (8.6%)
Manchester (8.4%)
Berlin (8.3%)
Copenhagen (7.8%)
Brussels (7.8%)
Stuttgart (7.4%)
Rotterdam the Hague (7.2%)
Sofia (6.8%)
Munich (6.7%)
Samara (6.6%)
Zurich (6.5%)
Kyiv (6.4%)
Rome (6.2%)
Bucharest (6.1%)
Marseille (5.9%)
Minsk (5.7%)
Hamburg (5.6%)
Warsaw (5.4%)
Barcelona (5.2%)
Cologne (5%)
Milan (4.9%)
Frankfurt Rhine Metropolitan (4.7%)
Moscow (4.6%)
Dublin (4.4%)
Belgrade (4.2%)
Kazan (4%)
Porto (3.9%)
Ufa (3.7%)
Nizhny Novgorod (3.6%)
Turin (3.5%)
Rostov-on-Don (3.3%)
Valencia (3.1%)
Voronezh (2.9%)
Greater Glasgow (2.7%)
Stockholm urban area (2.6%)
Naples (2.5%)
Perm (2.4%)
Volgograd (2.3%)
Lisbon (2.1%)
Athens (1.9%)
Madrid (1.4%)
Helsinki (1.4%)
Saint Petersburg (1.2%)

June 12, 2020

Finland to ease border controls with 6 countries, Sweden excluded

Finland announced on Thursday that it would ease border controls with Norway, Denmark, Iceland and the three Baltic countries Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania from next Monday. However, Finland still abstained from wider relaxation with the rest of the Schengen area, and neighbouring Sweden was exempted from the easing.

According to the government arrangement, Finland will relax entry controls in air transport and scheduled ferry services from the six listed countries from next Monday.

The decisions also mean that Finnish residents who have gone to those countries can return to Finland without having to take a 14-day quarantine.

Border controls for arrivals from Sweden would continue. Finnish Interior Minister Maria Ohisalo said at a press conference that the COVID-19 epidemic situation in Sweden does not make it possible to ease entry to Finland, though Finland keeps evaluating the situation in Sweden.

Read alsoGermany to lift border controls

In a move concerning the whole Schengen area, however, Finland will allow the entry of those residents of the Schengen countries who have property in Finland or have a relationship or date with someone in Finland. Ohisalo said that border guards will accept an oral statement from the visitors about the dating, no other proof is required.

Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto said that Finland would appreciate reciprocity in these actions. He noted that the Baltic countries had already earlier opened their borders to Finns.

Haavisto said he was expecting decisions from Norway and Denmark shortly, but Finland had already done its part now.

Haavisto said people in Finland can go to other countries than the six, at their own risk, but would face the 14-day quarantine upon back-arrival. Asked specifically about Germany, Haavisto noted that Germany is a major transit country in European transport, and thus Finland at this phase was not able to ease travel from Germany.

Read alsoCOVID-19 research in Europe could lead to first doses of vaccine by autumn-winter, says Italian expert

In domestic rules, the Finnish government announced that outdoor events for over 500 people would be allowed from the beginning of July. However, extraordinary measures would be required, such as spacing rules for those who stand in the open.

The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) on Thursday said the infection rate of COVID-19 in Finland has remained well under one despite relaxation of some restrictions, which means the easing has not produced an infection hike in the country so far.

Jussi Sane, a senior expert at THL, stressed at a press conference that the R-rate this week is 0.7-0.8 and it is yet too early to assess the impact of the reopening of restaurants in Finland from the beginning of June. He said it has been possible to trace down all recent infection cases, and there have been no undefined chains of infection recently.

Sane urged citizens to continue to pay attention to restrictions and personal behaviour, in order to protect themselves from the virus.

As the COVID-19 restrictive measures have been gradually eased in Finland, primary schools and lower secondary schools throughout the country reopened in mid-May, though summer holiday is coming. Restaurants and cafes throughout the country were allowed to reopen from June 1, with restrictions on opening hours and the number of customers indoors at one time.

June 11, 2020

EU countries agree on coordinated, non-discriminatory lifting of travel ban

European interior ministers agreed on Friday that travel restrictions imposed to curb the COVID-19 pandemic should be abolished in a coordinated and non-discriminatory manner.

During a video conference that was held within the framework of Croatia’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU), the ministers noted that the coronavirus outbreak has threatened some of the foundations of the EU, such as the European Single Market and freedom of movement.

Read alsoMost important information about border openings in the EU

EU member states have gradually eased or abolished restrictive measures that were imposed on national or regional levels. In the last few weeks, some countries have opened their borders for other nationals, but there has not been a comprehensive agreement on the EU level.

The ministers discussed the expected time frames within which border checks will be abolished once the health situation in a particular member state makes it possible, but did not mention any timetable.

They also discussed the procedure for returning to the full functioning of the Schengen area.

Read alsoSpain to reopen land borders from June 22

“Full functioning of the Schengen area and free movement of persons is of key importance for economic recovery and the European Union in general,” Croatian Interior Ministry Davor Bozinovic said in a press release.

EU member states have also expressed their views on possible lifting of restrictions that have been in place for third-country nationals, and on the criteria and measures on the basis of which the restrictions would be lifted.

June 5, 2020

U.S. media: Trump finds himself isolated among allies

After having experienced years of American unilateralism, U.S. allies in Europe no longer believe that President Donald Trump will offer them much, reported The New York Times.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s decision earlier this week of declining to attend the Group of Seven (G7) Summit that initially scheduled at the White House later this month was the most obvious evidence, said an article published Tuesday in the newspaper.

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Merkel cited the unabated pandemic as the reason, but a senior German official noted that it was not the case, said the article.

“She believed that proper diplomatic preparations had not been made; she did not want to be part of an anti-China display; she opposed Mr. Trump’s idea of inviting the Russian president, Vladimir V. Putin; she did not want to be seen as interfering in American domestic politics,” the official was quoted as saying, adding the chancellor was shocked by Trump’s unilateral decision to pull out of the World Health Organization.

Likewise, French President Emmanuel Macron, said the article, believed that Trump had damaged European security through his unilateral abandonment of the Iran nuclear deal and nearly every arms control agreement with Russia.

Read alsoEuropean airlines start to resume services as countries try to revive tourism

“As so often in the past, on issues like unilateral American withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal or the Paris climate accord or the Open Skies treaty or the sudden ban on air travel from Europe, Mr. Trump ignored the views of allies or did not consult them at all,” it said.

Trump’s opposition to all these international institutions and agreements is “outrageous for Europeans like Merkel and Macron who have multilateralism in their DNA,” the article quoted William Drozdiak, a senior fellow at the Washington-based Brookings Institution, as saying.

June 5, 2020

Spain to reopen land borders from June 22

Spain’s Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism Reyes Maroto said on Thursday that Spain will open its land borders with France and Portugal on June 22.

The minister explained that the restrictions, which have been effective since a State of Alarm was imposed on Spain to halt the spread of the coronavirus on March 15, will be lifted after the sixth extension to that measure expires at midnight on June 21.

Read alsoItaly lifts national and European travel ban as pandemic slows down

That sixth and final extension was approved by the Spanish Congress on Wednesday.

The border closure, which has been in effect since mid-March, has forbidden everyone, other than residents, truck drivers and cross-border workers, from using the land border with Spain’s two neighbors.

The El Pais newspaper reported that Maroto said Spain would also look to lift quarantine restrictions for those crossing the land borders, but that measure has still to be approved.

Read alsoGermany lifts travel warning for European countries from June 15

The initial aim of the Spanish government was to maintain quarantine restrictions until July 1, but in the past week the government has hinted it may ease restrictions to allow tourists from certain countries to fly to the Canary and Balearic Islands in an attempt to support the country’s tourism industry, which has been hit especially hard by the coronavirus crisis.

June 4, 2020

Italy lifts national and European travel ban as pandemic slows down

People in Italy will be allowed to move freely within the country from Wednesday and the travel restrictions were also eased the same day with travelers from European Union (EU) and Schengen countries, as well as the United Kingdom, Andorra and Monaco being allowed to visit the country without subjecting to quarantine.

“A month from May 4, when we reopened our manufacturing and construction sectors, we can say the numbers are encouraging,” Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said in a nationally televised press conference on Wednesday evening.

“The trend of new cases is constantly decreasing in all our regions,” said the prime minister. “This shows the strategy we adopted is and has been the right one.”

Read alsoGermany lifts travel warning for European countries from June 15

“As of today, European tourists can also travel to Italy,” he added. “They can visit our country without subjecting to quarantine.”

He added the government is hard at work to ensure Italy is once again “the safe and coveted destination of the tourists of Europe and the whole world.”

“The acute phase of the health emergency is behind us, but now we face the economic and social emergency,” Conte said.

“This crisis must also be an opportunity to design the country we want — to innovate from the ground up, to overcome structural problems we’ve been dragging for years,” Conte said.

He said “we have a historic opportunity” because the EU is planning a multi-billion-euro Recovery Fund and Italy will likely receive a lot of this money as one of the hardest-hit countries in Europe.

“We must know how to spend this money well,” Conte said as he outlined his “Recovery Plan” for Italy, which he said “rests on several pillars.”

Read alsoSlovakia, Czech Republic to allow free movement across mutual border from Thursday

He listed modernization, digitalization, innovation, tax and justice reform, cutting red tape, transitioning to sustainable energy, and building a high-speed train network linking the south of Italy to the rest of the country as key elements of the plan.

Meanwhile Health Minister Roberto Speranza sounded a note of warning to his fellow citizens.

“We must proceed with caution and continue to follow the rules we have learned … because they are the key in the battle against COVID-19,” Speranza said in reference to social distancing in a statement released on Wednesday, as the last remaining restrictions on personal freedoms were lifted.

“The virus is still very dangerous,” Speranza warned.

Italy reported 71 new COVID-19 deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the country’s toll to 33,601, out of total infection cases of 233,836, according to fresh figures on Wednesday.

Nationwide, the number of active infections dropped by 596 to 39,297 cases, according to the Civil Protection Department.

Of those who tested positive for the new coronavirus, 353 are in intensive care, 55 fewer compared to Tuesday, and 5,742 are hospitalized with symptoms, a decrease of 174 patients compared to Tuesday.

The remaining 33,202 people, or about 84 percent of those who tested positive, are isolated at home with no symptoms or only mild symptoms.

Recoveries rose by 846 compared to Tuesday, bringing the nationwide total to 160,938.

The overall number of COVID-19 active infections, fatalities and recoveries has risen to 233,836 cases over the past 24 hours, an increase of 321 cases from 233,515 recorded on Tuesday.

The overall fatalities include 167 doctors, according to the National Federation of Orders of Surgeons and Dentists (FNOMCeO), which is keeping a running tally of MDs who died fighting the virus.

As the pandemic slowed down visibly in recent weeks, Italy further eased the 10-week lockdown on May 18. Shops, restaurants, bars, barbershops, beauty salons, museums, and beachfront operators were all allowed to reopen, provided that they respect rules for social distancing and disinfect facilities.

Also on Wednesday, the Uffizi Galleries in Florence, home to masterpieces by Botticelli, Caravaggio, Leonardo, Michelangelo, and many more exquisite Renaissance artists, reopened its doors to visitors.

The museum occupying the first and second floors of a palace built in the late 1500s and designed by Giorgio Vasari is a magnet for tourists worldwide.

June 4, 2020

Ryanair’s passenger numbers down 99.5 pct in May

Europe’s largest budget airline Ryanair said on Wednesday that its passenger numbers in May went down by 99.5 percent to a meager 70,000 compared with 14.1 million passengers it carried in the same month of last year.

In May, Ryanair operated only 701 flights, including a number of flights conducted for rescue and medical purposes, according to a statement issued by the airline.
Ryanair expects minimal traffic in June, the statement noted.

Ryanair’s business went normal until March when more and more European countries imposed flight bans and restrictions to curb the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak in the region.

In February, Ryanair handled 10.5 million passengers, up 9 percent over a year ago. By March, however, the figure was almost halved to 5.7 million,

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In April, the airline’s passenger numbers further shrank to a meager 40,000, a 99.6 percent drop when compared with a year ago.

Ryanair has decided to resume 40 percent of its flights starting from July 1.

The airline predicts that its passenger numbers for the current fiscal year which will end on March 31, 2021 will be less than 100 million, 35 percent short of its originally planned target of 155 million.

Due to its shrinking business, Ryanair has announced to lay off 3,000 employees and cut its employees’ pay by 20 percent.

Earlier last month the company announced that it had laid off over 250 people working at its bases in Ireland, Britain, Spain and Poland.

Headquartered in Ireland, Ryanair boasts a workforce of around 19,000 people. The airline mainly operates flight services in Europe and parts of North Africa.

Read alsoEuropean airlines start to resume services as countries try to revive tourism

June 3, 2020

UK PM unveils “limited” easing of lockdown as COVID-19 deaths hit 37,837

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Thursday unveiled some “limited” and “cautious” easing of the country’s coronavirus lockdown measures.

Chairing Thursday’s Downing Street daily briefing, Johnson said that from Monday, nurseries and schools will reopen, first to Reception, Year 1 and Year 6.

A fortnight later on June 15, secondary schools will begin to provide face-to-face contact time for Years 10 and 12, said Johnson.

Read alsoEuropean Commission proposes borrowing 750 bln euros as recovery fund

Outdoor retail and car showrooms will start to open from Monday and other non-essential retail will open on June 15, he said.

Also starting Monday, up to six people will be able to meet outdoors, providing members of different households continue to stay two meters apart, said the prime minister.

Hoping that the government will be able to do more in returning the country to a more normal life, Johnson warned that “this is all conditional” based on the scientific data confirming that these actions are safe.

There could be further local outbreaks and the brakes will be put on as required and where necessary, he noted.

Earlier in the day, the British government officially launched the test and trace system in England as part of the efforts to contain the pandemic.

To break the chain of transmission, people in England who has been in close contact with someone who has been infected with COVID-19 will be asked from Thursday to isolate for 14 days even if they have no symptoms.

Another 377 COVID-19 patients have died in Britain as of Wednesday afternoon, bringing the total coronavirus-related death toll in the country to 37,837, the Department of Health and Social Care said Thursday.

Read alsoBehind grim milestone of 100,000 coronavirus deaths in U.S.

The figures include deaths in all settings, including hospitals, care homes and the wider community.

As of Thursday morning, 269,127 people have tested positive in Britain, a daily increase of 1,887, according to the department.

May 28, 2020