Ursula von der Leyen

President of the European Commission B - 1049 Brussels

Brussels, 16 May 2020

Dear President,

We welcomed your proposals for the tourism compartment, presented on 13 May. The sector has been affected in severe ways by this unexpected crisis, and we need a strong support to help the workers and the families depending by one of the most important economic field in Europe.

Nevertheless, we need an additional effort from the Commission in order to prevent any discrimination between Member States. In fact, the “Communication towards a phased and coordinated approach for restoring freedom of movement and lifting internal border controls” (C(2020)3250) states that “Measures to be taken at national level to gradually lift travel restrictions should take into consideration [...] the assessment of approximation of epidemiological situations in the Member States”. That could cause some discrimination, and could also give the possibility to create internal bilateral agreements penalizing some Member States.

Of course, we need to keep the health security as priority, and to put in place every measure to control and prevent the spreading of the epidemic, but, at the same time, we need a strong coordination by European Commission to prevent any form of bilateral agreements against the principles of the internal market.

Hence, we asks the Commission to block any form of “tourism corridors” between Member States that could affect a fair restoration of the market.

Yours sincerely,

Mario Furore, Member of ,

Isabella Adinolfi, Member of European Parliament,

Tiziana Beghin, Member of European Parliament,

Fabio Massimo Castaldo, Member of European Parliament,

Ignazio Corrao, Member of European Parliament,

Chiara Gemma, Member of European Parliament,

Laura Ferrara, Member of European Parliament,

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