Estonia Foreign Minister Eva-Maria Liimets has announced intentions to restore the so-called Baltic travel bubble.
Last spring, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania allowed each other’s residents and citizens to travel without restrictions within the three-country ‘bubble’.
On Wednesday, Liimets asked the Estonian government for a mandate to start negotiations with Latvia and Lithuania, according to the Estonian public broadcaster ERR News.
"It is not yet at the right level to fully open up societies, but the time is right to start preparations and discuss how this would be possible," she told ERR, adding that the discussions could start next week.
Liimets could not yet say how this year’s travel bubble would look like.
In a written statement, the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry confirmed to LRT English that "preparations are ongoing for discussions about the possible restoration of the Baltic 'travel bubble'".
'Open to proposals'
On Thursday, Health Minister Arūnas Dulkys said that Lithuania is open "to all proposals", according to the Baltic News Service. However, the country currently has different priorities.
"All proposals are possible, but at the moment, we have a European immunisation certificate and a national immunity passport on our desk," he told reporters.
Baltic officials to discuss 'travel bubble' next week – foreign ministry
Baltic officials will meet next week to discuss the possibility of restoring a "travel bubble" between Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry said on Thursday, adding that borders could first open to people with immunity from Covid-19.
The Baltic countries have been in close touch with each other on pandemic management issues, including possibilities for restoring a "travel bubble" that worked well last year, the ministry told BNS.
Vaccine delivery issues and the lingering high infection rates have so far prevented any practical steps in this direction, according to the ministry.
However, in light of "the changing situation and the accelerating vaccination pace", Baltic officials are planning to discuss possible actions to facilitate travel for Lithuanian, Latvian and Estonian residents, especially during the summer period, it added.
The ministry said Baltic residents who have been vaccinated against the coronavirus and those who have previously contracted the virus and recovered could be the first to enjoy easier travel within the region.
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