With COVID-19, I was wondering what situation is on border controls. I haven't visited EU post COVID-19 (been to UK but not mainland Europe) so are border controls abolished or do they have them in place to control spread of COVID-19 such as checking people are vaccinated (and if not must self-isolate for 10 days) as well as requiring testing to cross. If COVID-19 doesn't end anytime soon, could this impact free movement? Yes right to live and work anywhere in EU won't be impacted other than those moving have to self isolate for first 10 days.
As for further integration, would be interested in which of countries not in Eurozone end up joining as no one in last 5 years has joined. Technically only Denmark can stay out indefinitely but doesn't seem like EU is enforcing this.
When I went to Munich back in October, I had to pre-register for entry to Germany and complete some forms for my Eurostar transit of France, Belgium and the Netherlands. A day trip to Salzburg saw some German border offices board my return train at the first stop in that country, but they ignored me, instead briefly talking to someone else before leaving the train.
But that was in October, before Omicron.
https://apply.joinsherpa.com/map Will give you an idea of the restrictions/rules.
In my experience, as long as you're fully vaxxed and you happen to be a citizen of a EU member state you won't have much trouble travelling to another member state. No testing or quarantine is required, unless the respective country has been designated a "virus variant territory" (Germany currently designates no EU member as such with the UK being the only European country to be placed in that category).
In mid-October I went to Paris. My vaccination status was checked by the airline at the Berlin airport. No such check was conducted when arriving in France itself. Museums and other points of interests in Paris are regularly checking your vaccination status upon entering.
Two weeks ago I went to the Canary Islands. Controls were a bit stricter here. You are required to fill out an identification form on the website of the Spanish health ministry. After finishing that form you're receiving a QR code that allows you to enter the country. That code was scanned by an official upon arrival at the airport in Spain. Unlike France, your vaccination status is not checked in museums and other tourist spots.
If you are not vaccinated everything is a lot harder, of course, with mandatory testing and quarantine requirements.
