Coronavirus: Czechs to shorten EU’s list of “safe” third countries of origin

The Czech Republic will reduce the list of 15 or so “safe countries of origin” on which the EU is set to agree, selecting about 10 non-EU states for its own purposes, based in part on reciprocity, Foreign Minister Tomáš Petříček (Social Democrats) said on Monday.

The travel restrictions stem from efforts to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus. Petříček said the Foreign Ministry considers Wester Balkan countries a priority, as well as Australia and New Zealand, but emphasized the Czech Republic wants a joint EU approach to selecting the third countries.