Restore freedom of movement and rescue the summer season in Europe

Restoring the free movement of people in Europe and opening internal borders is crucial to rescue the 2020 summer season. Tens of millions of jobs and family livelihoods are at stake as the coronavirus threatens to fatally damage the tourism sector.

While economic activity all over Europe is slowly starting back up, the most draconian measures, the closure of national borders, are still in effect. These measures were deemed necessary at the start of the epidemic in Europe to pull the emergency brakes and stop cross-border contagion. They are now disproportionate in light of the national internal measures in place. Countries have managed to get the epidemic under control; new cases can be recognized and isolated much quicker than at the start of the crisis. This is why the Schengen area should be restored as a matter of urgency.

Instead, we are now hearing talk of...