It appears that Europe’s plans to launch a continent-wide travel system have been delayed once more. The single European Travel Area (SETA) was first proposed as a way to connect Europe’s Schengen Area countries more easily. Initially, the plan was to have SETA fully operational by the end of this year but that timeline has now been pushed back to 2025 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The SETA system was conceived in December of 2018 when the European Council gave the green light to the project. The main focus of the project was to make cross-border travel easier for EU citizens by streamlining passport and visa regulations. It was also meant to reduce the amount of paperwork and bureaucracy associated with international travel.
However, the pandemic has thrown a major wrench in the system. Travel within Europe has all but ground to a halt due to the restrictions put in place across the continent. This has led to delays in the implementation of the SETA system, and it is now not expected to be fully operational until 2025.
The SETA system will make travel within Europe much easier. Once implemented, travelers will be able to seamlessly move from one European country to another without the headache of having to apply for visas or fill out paperwork. Instead, they will simply be required to show their SETA-approved passport or ID card in order to move between countries.
Furthermore, the new system will also make cross-border travel within the Schengen Area much simpler and faster. The SETA system will also benefit tourists, business travelers, and students who wish to travel in Europe and make the entire continent more accessible. However, the coronavirus pandemic has now thrown the project off course and delayed the rollout by several years.
It remains to be seen how long it will take before the SETA system is finally launched. Until then, travelers in Europe can expect to face paperwork, bureaucracy, and visa regulations when they travel. This new delay means that it could be 2025 before Europe’s borders open up and the SETA system becomes a reality.
