reply There is a risk that the European economy will restart or the epidemic will return

From Monday, many European countries will gradually loosen border control measures. In particular, the flow of people between the EU and Schengen area countries will become more convenient, and businesses and tourism will benefit directly. The COVID-19 epidemic is not yet fully behind us, and many countries are still trying to implement economic stimulus measures and prepare for a number of measures to prevent a possible second rebound.Countries opened their borders to each otherMany European Union countries have announced a timetable for significantly liberalising border controls, roughly the same pace as the 15th for the EU and Schengen zone countries, with outside countries also free to travel from July.The French government confirmed on June 12 that France will lift its border control measures against almost all citizens of European Union member states at 0:00 on June 15 and gradually open its borders to non-Schengen area countries from July 1.In a joint statement, France's Foreign and Interior ministries said the coVID-19 situation in France and Europe has improved.Citizens from Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, SAN Marino, Switzerland and the Vatican will also have no restrictions on entering France. Under the principle of reciprocity, Spanish and British citizens must be quarantined for 14 days when entering France. France will gradually open its borders to non-Schengen countries from July 1.Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and Interior Minister Christophe Castanet confirmed in a statement that France's reopening of its borders to countries outside the Schengen area would be in line with other EU members.Germany will resume cross-border travel to Europe Monday, but travelers must abide by health and protection rules, Foreign Minister Thomas Maas said Tuesday.Austria will resume free travel to and from 31 European countries from Monday, but will maintain travel restrictions on Spain, Portugal, Sweden and the UK, the government said, stressing that the travel warning for Italy's Lombardy region remains in effect.The Swiss government said it would open its borders to eu members, Britain, Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein from Monday.In addition, Greece will reopen its doors to tourists from 29 countries, including China, from Monday.Many European Union countries have closed their borders since March to contain the outbreak. On July 11th the European Union proposed that its member states open their borders to a number of Balkan countries from July 1st.Tourism, which normally accounts for about a tenth of the EU economy, has become a backwater as a result of the outbreak, and the European Commission has repeatedly called for a return to "unrestricted free movement" when the outbreak is under control.Add to the restart of the economyAffected by the epidemic, many European countries are facing the predicament of economic recession. How to put the economy on the right track as soon as possible in the "post-epidemic era" is an important task for officials.Italian Prime Minister Giuceppe Conte held a video conference with the leaders of the European Union and the International Monetary Fund on Wednesday to discuss saving Italy's economy from the "unprecedented shock" of coVID-19 and mentioned the "Courage Plan".Mr. Conte says Italy needs an economic rescue package that will defuse the crisis.Eu leaders "have to show that they understand that this is a bilateral issue and that we are going through an unprecedented shock with very high human, social and economic costs," Mr. Conte said.Italy's economy, the Eu's third-largest, is expected to contract by at least 8.3 per cent this year, according to optimistic estimates from Italy's national statistics agency.The EU currently proposes a 750 billion euro ($847 billion) economic recovery plan, including 500 billion euros in aid and 250 billion euros in loans. Italy is expected to receive 172 billion euros.Mr. Conte said he agreed with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen that "we cannot go back to the way we were before the crisis." According to Mr Conte, EU members should "seize the opportunity to turn the crisis into an opportunity to remove the barriers that have held them back over the past two decades".In addition to Von der Leyen, European Council President Charles Michel and other senior EU officials and IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva also attended the meeting.Mr Von der Leyen responded to Mr Conte: "This is the time for you to come up with and put in place an effective recovery plan. Europe needs an Italy that is intrinsically strong." Michel said: "To reinforce Italy is to reinforce Europe."In Germany, Reuters quoted a senior German official as saying finance Minister Olaf Scholz was considering an additional 50 billion euro budget to provide more money for an economic stimulus package. The Cabinet plans to approve the budget supplement on January 17th.The EU plans to hold a video summit on June 19 to discuss how to deal with the aftermath of the COVID-19 crisis, with economic recovery as an important topic.The UK economy has also deteriorated, with the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics showing gross domestic product fell 20.4 per cent in April from the previous month, the biggest monthly decline since records began in 1997. Analysts believe April should be the "darkest hour" for the UK economy as the government gradually lifts lockdown measures in response to the COVID-19 outbreak from mid-May, with a slow recovery ahead.The ORGANISATION for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) now expects the UK economy to shrink by 11.5 per cent in 2020, making it the worst-affected of the advanced economies, without a second wave.To address the risk of a second outbreakAs restrictions are lifted and economic activity resumes, the risk of a second outbreak looms in Europe, with officials and experts warning to brace themselves.Six European leaders, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron, have called on the European Commission to prepare for a possible second pandemic.The risk of a second coVID-19 outbreak growing large enough to require a new lockdown is medium to high, depending on the gradual easing of restrictions and compliance, EU health experts said Wednesday.An outbreak risk assessment published by the European Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (ECDC) said infection rates were expected to rise modestly in the coming weeks, but said most European countries had passed their peak."The epidemic is not over yet," said ECDC director Jan Armoen in a statement accompanying the assessment. She noted that despite the downward trend in the number of irus infections across Europe, novel Coronavirus infections still need to be controlled."It is important to follow advice on distance, frequent hand washing and cough etiquette." "A little contribution from everyone can make all the difference," she says.The public health crisis caused by the COVID-19 outbreak is not over, EU Health Commissioner Maria Kyriakides warned On Thursday, calling on governments to remain vigilant and continue testing and tracing.A number of experts have warned that the recent mass protests in many European countries could bring forward a second wave of the epidemic that academics had thought might not occur until after the summer.