Cross-border travel to be permitted between Denmark and Norway
As of 15 June, Denmark and Norway will be allowing their citizens to travel between the two countries. Travel for Swedish nationals, however, remains off-bounds
“We can’t open too suddenly, that would jeopardise everything we’ve accomplished,” Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg said in a news conference, explaining that most restrictions related to travel between Denmark and Norway would be lifted by 15 June.
Denmark is also due to welcome tourists from Germany and Iceland, although these visitors will be required to book at least six nights’ accommodation before arriving, and they will not be permitted to stay in the capital Copenhagen, where most of the country’s coronavirus infections are.
Denmark’s Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod noted that the country will also consider opening travel possibilities with neighbouring countries once new case numbers have decreased further. "We will still advise against all unnecessary trips to the rest of the world until 31 August," he said.
In addition, Sweden’s citizens will not be included in the new travel arrangement as the country’s Covid-19 death rate per capita is many times higher than the combined total of the other Nordic countries. For this reason, Sweden has also advised all its citizens against travelling abroad until 15 July.
“We are looking at the possibility of regional solutions, for example opening up the Oresund region,” Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde noted at a news conference on 29 May.
In other news, Greece has identified that nationals of 29 specified countries will be permitted to travel to Greece for non-essential purposes from 15 June. Those countries are: Albania, Australia, Austria, Northern Macedonia, Bulgaria, Germany, Denmark, Switzerland, Estonia, Japan, Israel, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Malta, Montenegro, Romania, New Zealand, Norway, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Finland.
“The list of 29 countries was formed after a study of the epidemiological profile of the countries of origin of the tourists and after taking into account yesterday’s announcements of the European Aviation Safety Agency, as well as the relevant recommendation of the Infectious Diseases Committee,” the Greek Ministry of Tourism detailing in a notice on 29 May.
The list is due to be expanded by 1 July.