Several non-EU countries to be green-lit for travel

While officials in Brussels are debating who will be allowed to enter the EU, Czechia's priority are the Balkan states.

Starting July 1, EU plans to lift its travel restrictions for people from several non-EU countries. The most decent draft list contains 15 states including Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand or South Korea. The US, Russia or Brazil are not on the approved list.

Czechia wants to narrow this list down to around ten countries. According to the Minister of Foreign Affairs Tomáš Petříček (ČSSD), the criteria will include reciprocity - that is, whether these states are also opening its borders to Czech citizens.

The ministry wants to publish its list after the EU negotiations are finalized - but enabling travel to Balkan states has been marked as a priority.