Covid-19: EU Chief Says Summer Holidays Still Possible with ‘Smart Solutions’

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen sent a message of reassurance this week that post-coronavirus (Covid-19) travel will be possible as long as hygiene measures and social distancing are strictly adhered.

In an interview with Portuguese weekly Expresso Sunday, von der Leyen referred to the decisive role of innovation and smart solutions that will enable taking holidays this summer as the coronavirus crisis develops.

Earlier this month, von der Leyen had advised Europeans against making travel plans and suggested that seniors stay at home until the end of the year due to the uncertainty surrounding the deadly virus.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

The European Commission president went on to stress the importance of learning to “live with the virus”, and added that it was good news that EU member states were starting to lift restrictive measures.

However, von der Leyen stressed that governments should advance “with care, step by step and always with vigilance”.

In this direction the European Commission issued a set of guidelines that will ensure the smooth return to normalcy after the Covid-19 lockdown measures have been lifted, stressing the importance of coordination among EU states.

“It is difficult to predict what the next months will be like, but what I see is that we are starting to learn to live with the virus,” she said.

The EU chief also expressed her optimism with regard to the solutions that have emerged to safeguard economic activity within the Union.