TIRANA – The European Union has approved a 30-day temporary ban for non-essential travel to its 27 member states for people from non-member nations, in a bid to stem the spread of coronavirus, the foreign ministry said in an announcement to Albanian citizens on Wednesday.
The EU heads of state and government held a three-hour videoconference to discuss the bloc’s further steps against the spread of the virus and preventing the economic fallout last Tuesday.
Citizens of the European countries that are members of the Schengen zone can also enter the EU for essential travel reasons. The announcement mentions EU members and countries like Island, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, which have signed the Schengen document.
A wide category of travelers like medical staff and researchers, border officers, personnel engaged in transport of goods, diplomats, staff of international organizations, humanitarian officers etc. are excluded from the ban.
“Given the seriousness of the situation, all the citizens of the Republic of Albania and citizens of third countries, who are currently staying in the Albanian territory, are advised not to make unnecessary travels out of Albania,” said the foreign ministry.
Further on it notifies that all citizens who have to make essential travels are required to see the website of the foreign ministry and of the foreign embassies accredited in Tirana to get updated information on the conditions of the travels and respective restrictions.
As it has been reported earlier many EU states have reintroduced border controls or completely closed the borders to prevent the spread of the virus which severely disrupts the EU’s internal market.
Albania has also closed its borders with the neighboring countries including Kosovo.
EU leaders agreed to hold a videoconference every week to discuss the latest developments as part of its fight against the virus. The World Health Organization has declared Europe as the new epicenter of the coronavirus, which first emerged in Wuhan, China last December. /argumentum.al
