Ukraine's new education minister and the EU border debate, June 2020
A look back at two items in the news around 29 June 2020: a contested ministerial appointment in Kyiv and EU planning for reopened borders.
What was in the news for Ukraine's public life on 29 June 2020? Two reports from the preceding days set the scene.
On 25 June 2020, Serhiy Shkarlet was chosen as Ukraine's minister of education. As reported at the time, he had earlier been caught up in a plagiarism accusation and was noted for a fondness for upmarket cars, details that framed how the appointment was received.
On 24 June 2020, ambassadors of EU member states met to develop criteria for reopening the Union's external borders to travellers on 1 July. European Commission guidance said that non-EU countries would be placed on a safe list if their COVID-19 situation was comparable to or better than the EU average. That assessment would look at the number of new infections, the trend in new infections, and testing and tracing. Other factors, such as reciprocity and links to the EU, would also be weighed. Under these rules, travellers from countries such as Brazil, Russia and the United States might be barred.
