EU Moves to Allow Vaccinated Tourists from Third Countries

The European Council on Thursday advised member states to relax entry restrictions for non-essential travellers from non-EU countries who have been fully immunized against COVID-19 with a vaccine authorized by Brussels.

The decision "responds to the ongoing vaccination campaigns by introducing certain waivers for vaccinated persons and easing the criteria to lift restrictions for third countries," it said in a statement.

The council, which comprises the governments of the 27 member states, called on the member states to "lift restrictions on non-essential travel for third-country travellers who have received the last recommended dose of an EMA [European Medicines Agency] approved vaccine at least 14 days before arrival".

The recommendation was issued at the request of the European Commission, and has been welcomed by its spokesperson for Rule of Law and Fundamental Rights, Christian Wigand.

"This will help progressively resuming international inbound travel where it is possible to do so safely, while at the same time ensuring quick action to counter the spread of new virus variants," he said.

The Council also recommends governments to raise the threshold for enforcing quarantine and other restrictions on non-essential travellers from 25 to 75 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.

In case of a sharp rise of COVID cases in a third country, or if a new variant is detected in the country of origin, the EU body advises states to act in coordination and apply an "emergency break".

"Where the epidemiological situation of a third country or region worsens quickly, in particular if a variant of concern or of interest has been detected, member states should adopt an urgent, temporary restriction on all travel into the EU," the...