On March 15, the CIVL Bureau stated that it would support organisers’ decision on running or not their events. Since, all 2020 Cat 1 events have been cancelled or postponed to 2022, except for the European Paragliding XC championship to be held in Serbia, initially from July 19 to August 1, then from August 23 to September 5.

The situation looked promising. One hundred and fifty pilots from 29 nations were allocated spots on July 7 and some teams paid their entry fees. The situation has somehow worsened lately. On July 14, it was announced that the European Union nations would now allow only ‘essential’ travel to Serbia, which would make the championship impossible to take part. We are waiting for the official announcement and for the timeframe of the next evaluation.

We trust the organisers to run a ‘safe, fair and satisfying’ championship, but the pandemic and travel restrictions take precedent. We agreed to wait August 1 for a final decision to be taken. Teams registered should be aware of this situation before they make their travel arrangements.

Published by www.b92 on July 15, 2020.

Ambassadors of 27 EU member states removed Serbia from the list of safe countries to travel through. That will happen for at least two weeks, reports the correspondent of Tanjug from Brussels. 
Serbia, together with Montenegro, was removed from the list of the EU Council due to the worsened epidemiological situation in the country. It is added that the possibility of opening the external borders of the EU for the citizens of Serbia will be discussed again in two weeks. 
The removal of Serbia-Montenegro from the list was proposed late last night by Germany, which holds the EU presidency, and the proposal was supported by several countries, including France, Spain and the Netherlands, officials told Reuters. 
The list, updated by the EU-27 ambassadors, is a recommendation for member states when deciding which third countries their borders will be open to. The EU Council emphasizes that the recommendation "has no legal character", and that the member states are "responsible for the implementation of the content of the recommendation". "Member states can, transparently, gradually raise travel restrictions only for listed countries. They should not decide on lifting travel restrictions for countries that are not on the list before it is coordinated," the EU Council said in a statement. 
The European Commission explains that travel restrictions are the responsibility of member states, which can decide for which countries from the adopted list will open their borders, but also which measures (quarantine, self-isolation or tests) will apply to passengers when it comes to public health protection. 
Citizens of those third countries, including now Serbia, which are not on the list, are not automatically blocked for travel to the EU. All those who have EU citizenship or residence permits, members of their families and those who have a justifiable reason to travel, will still be allowed to travel to Schengen.

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