The Delegation of the European Union (EU) to Sri Lanka and the Maldives has confirmed the Maldives is not blacklisted, although the country was not included in the list of countries selected by the EU to lift temporary restrictions on non-essential travel to EU countries.
The EU delegation released a statement, reporting the EU is currently in the process of lifting internal borders, while preparing for the gradual reopening to travel from outside the EU. The statement read the decision to lift travel restrictions with non-EU countries is ultimately the prerogative of EU member states and the Schengen associated countries.
The statement further read member states and associates are working together to agree an initial positive list of countries with which borders could be reopened soon on the basis of objective criteria, including the epidemiological situation in the given country and the possibility to seek reciprocity with the country concerned. As such, the statement read the short list currently under examination is limited to 15 countries.
Furthermore, the statement read although the Maldives was not included in the shortlist, the EU recognises the successful efforts of the Maldives to contain the spread of COVID-19. The EU also noted the absence of a country on the positive list should not be considered as being blacklisted, adding the list will be regularly updated and revised to ensure further countries can be added as soon as the situation allows.
The government of the Maldives has decided to reopen Maldivian borders for international operations on July 15, nearly four months after borders were closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.