H Commission Proposes that Member States relax existing restrictions on unnecessary travel within the EU, taking into account the progress of vaccination campaigns and developments in the epidemiological situation worldwide.
The European Commission proposes to allow entry into the EU for non-essential reasons not only for those from countries with a good epidemiological situation, but also for all those who have received the last dose of EU-approved vaccine. This could be extended to vaccines that have completed the WHO emergency registration process.
In addition, The Commission proposes to increase, in line with the evolving epidemiological situation in the EU, the threshold related to the number of new COVID-19 incidents used to determine the list of countries from which all travel should be allowed. This will allow the Council to expand this list.
At the same time, the appearance of coronavirus mutations requires constant vigilance. The Commission therefore proposes new “emergency brake” mechanism, which will be coordinated at EU level and which would reduce the risk of such mutations entering the EU. This will allow Member States to act quickly and temporarily minimize any travel from the affected countries for the time required for take appropriate sanitary measures.
More specifically, European Commission proposes to lift restrictions on unnecessary travel for vaccinated people traveling to the EU. This reflects the latest scientific advice that vaccination helps break down the transmission chain. Member States should allow people who have received the last recommended dose of a vaccine authorized in the EU to travel to the EU at least 14 days before arrival. Member States could also extend it to those who have been vaccinated. with a vaccine that completed the WHO emergency registration process.
In addition, if Member States decide to waive the requirements for a negative PCR and / or quarantine test for vaccinated persons in their territory, they should also waive these requirements for travelers who have been vaccinated from outside the EU. In accordance with the rules proposed by the Commission on 17 March, travelers should be able to demonstrate their vaccination status with the digital green certificate issued by the Member States’ authorities on an individual basis or by another certificate recognized as equivalent by a Commission decision. Until the introduction of the Digital Green Certificate, Member States should be able to accept certificates from non-EU countries under national law, taking into account the possibility of verifying the authenticity, validity and integrity of the certificate and whether it contains all relevant data. Member States could consider setting up a portal allowing travelers to apply for the recognition of a vaccination certificate issued by a non-EU country as a reliable proof of vaccination and / or for the issuance of a digital green certificate.
Children excluded from vaccination should be able to travel with their vaccinated parents if they have tested negative for COVID-19 PCR no earlier than 72 hours prior to arrival. In these cases, Member States could require additional tests upon arrival.
Unnecessary travel regardless of individual vaccination status is currently permitted by 7 countries with good epidemiological status. This list shall be decided by the Council on the basis of the epidemiological criteria contained in this Recommendation. The Commission proposes to modify the criteria to take account of evidence of the positive impact of vaccination campaigns. The proposal is to raise the 14-day cumulative alert rate for COVID-19 from 25 to 100. This remains significantly lower than the current EU average of over 420. The adjusted threshold should allow the Council to extend the list of countries from which unnecessary travel is permitted regardless of vaccination status, without prejudice to health-related measures such as testing and / or quarantine. As of now, the Council should review this list at least every 2 weeks.
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