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The Coronavirus measures imposed all across the world have affected not only businesses and leisure travels, but have also separated families, and even lovers.

The latter, have intensified their requests to the competent authorities in the country in which they or their lover is stuck, to open border for unmarried couples by excluding them from travel restrictions imposed in a bid to curb the Coronavirus pandemic.

Recently EU citizens as well, are calling on the European Union to permit their non-EU lovers to enter after three months of separation. The call has been taken to social media, where the hashtag #loveisnottourism is thriving, in particular in twitter.

We are all willing to test, quarantine, do whatever it takes etc. just to see our loved ones, something people take for granted every day! #LiftTheTravelBan, twitter user Claire Greidanus said.

Others joined her and many others in their quest to the EU institutions to make an exemption for couples and lift the travel ban.

The European Union Commission had recommended to the Member States and the Schengen Associated Countries to close the external borders of the territory in a bid to halt the further spread of the Coronavirus.

The recommendation was followed with action by the Members Countries, who did not hesitate to put in place an entry ban for third-country citizens travelling for non-essential purposes.

Affected by the ban were not only tourists, but also workers, family members, and overall, lovers. At first, it was unprecedented that the external border closure would remain in place for more than one month. It, however, did last for three and a half months, and the end of it is nowhere near.

Throughout this period, the EU suggested to the member states to exempt from the temporary travel restriction to the EU+ area all EU citizens and citizens of the Schengen Associated States, and their family members for the purposes of returning home.

According to EUs Articles 2(2) and 3(2) of Directive 2004/38/EC, only the following categories qualify as family members of an EU citizen:

Any other family members, irrespective of their nationality, not falling under any of the categories listed above, who, in the country from which they have come, are dependants or members of the household of the Union citizen having the primary right of residence, or where serious health grounds strictly require the personal care of the family member by the Union citizen, are also defined as family members.

Though point (b) of the article Articles 3(2) of Directive 2004/38/EC clearly states that the partner with whom the Union citizen has a durable relationship, duly attested is also considered a family member, even binational couples in long-term relationships and those engaged have faced difficulties in getting back together within the EU, mainly due to restrictions imposed individually by the Member States.

Border restrictions for months have also separated families and friends within the European Union as well, in particular those living in border areas.

The European Commission recommended on June 11 to all Member States and the Schengen Associated Countries to keep the external ban in place until June 30.

It, however, recommended the gradual and partial reopening of borders, starting from July, in particular for countries where the infection rates were low. It also suggested to those countries that were planning to keep the border closure beyond July 1, to at least open its borders to families.

EU citizens and citizens of Schengen Associated States and third-country nationals legally residing in the European Union, as well as their family members, should be exempted from the travel restriction, regardless whether or not they are returning home, the recommendation says among others.

It still permits the Member States can to take appropriate measures such as requiring such persons to undergo self-isolation or similar measures upon return from a third country for which the temporary restriction on non-essential travel is maintained, provided they impose the same requirements on their own nationals.

The recommendation does not contain anything specific for binational couples separated for months now.

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Love Is Not Tourism Binational Couples Separated by Borders Call on EU to Lift Entry Restrictions - SchengenVisaInfo.com