Thank you for addressing this question about #LoveisNotTourism @vonderleyen, but there seems to be a lack of understanding about the current obstacles facing those of us still separated from our loved ones. Half of your member states have NOT accepted the EU’s recommendation. 1/ https://twitter.com/EU_Commission/status/1319223718334418944

Most exclude legal residents, create impossible criteria to get approved, or have inserted strange caveats to justify denying couples. For example, your home country of Germany demands that couples must have met in Germany, an arbitrary stipulation that ignores the basic 2/

reality of many binational relationships. When pressed to change this rule, the @BMI_Bund said they were unable to…because the @EU_Commission had not given instructions. Just today, Spain denied a couple’s reunification because they had not lived together, despite Spain’s 3/

Secretary of State @manuelmuniz stating that living together was not a requirement to obtain a travel exception. We appreciate that you miss your family and we hope you have been able to see them during these difficult times. Luckily, you have not been restricted from visiting 4/

them if you so choose. We have and continue to be. We also have no idea when we will be able to hug our loved ones again due to EU Member states restrictive policies towards us. What’s even more frustrating is that a solution exists! Denmark’s only requirement to reunite is a 5/

signed affidavit by both partners stating they’re in a relationship and a negative covid test upon arrival. That’s it. Has this simple policy made Denmark less safe? Quite the opposite: they were just added to Great Britain’s non quarantine travel corridor. All we’re asking is 6/

the @EU_Commission ensure that their members adapt the Denmark-style system so that we can safely reunite with our partners. We’re hopeful that we can discuss these issues further with you. We’ve been without love long enough. end/