The Baltic Bubble was a special travel-restricted area consisting of the Baltic states Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania created on May 15, 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe. It was the first travel bubble in Europe and in the European Union since COVID-19 restrictions were first implemented.[1][2][3] The creation of the Baltic Bubble was announced by the prime ministers of the three states on April 29, 2020.[1] It allowed citizens of the states to travel across the borders of the states without needing to self-isolate unless the citizens had travelled outside of the area within the previous 14 days.[3]
The Baltic Bubble was suspended on November 11, 2020, when Latvia restricted entry conditions for people coming from Estonia due to an increase in COVID-19 cases.[3]
On April 28, 2021, Estonia Foreign Minister Eva-Maria Liimets announced that the Baltic Bubble could be restored in the summer of 2021, allowing for the facilitation of travel between the states again.[4] On April 29, 2021, Lithuania Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė questioned the need for a Baltic Bubble because a European Union Green Pass was already in development at the time that would allow for people to freely travel across the entire EU.[5] On May 28, 2021, the Lithuanian Economy and Innovation Ministry announced that the three Baltic states were planning on reintroducing the Baltic Bubble.[6]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b Mzezewa, Tariro (2020-04-29). "3 Baltic States Announced a 'Travel Bubble.' What Is It and Could It Work in the U.S.?". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2021-03-08. Retrieved 2021-03-24.
- ^ "Coronavirus: Baltic states open a pandemic 'travel bubble'". BBC News. 2020-05-15. Archived from the original on 2021-01-25. Retrieved 2021-03-24.
- ^ a b c "Latvia bursts Baltic travel bubble as COVID19 cases surge". AP News. 2020-09-11. Archived from the original on 2020-12-30. Retrieved 2021-03-24.
- ^ "Estonia Plans to Restore 'Baltic Bubble' Travel Zone". Schengen Visa Info News. 2021-04-29. Retrieved 2021-06-11.
- ^ "Lithuanian PM doubts the need for Baltic 'travel bubble'". LRT English. 2021-04-29. Retrieved 2021-06-12.
- ^ "Baltics planning to revive 'travel bubble'". Eesti Rahvusringhääling (ERR). 2021-05-28. Retrieved 2021-06-12.
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