BRUSSELS - EU countries "should lift the temporary restriction of
non-essential travel to the EU for people vaccinated with an EU or WHO approved vaccine
, provided they have received the last dose of the primary vaccination course at least 14 days and no more than 270 days prior to arrival or have received a booster dose ".
This is what is stated in the recommendations approved today by the ministers for European affairs.
"Member States should also lift the temporary restriction of non-essential travel for people who have recovered from COVID-19 within 180 days prior to travel."
For people vaccinated with a WHO-approved vaccine, Member States may also require a negative PCR test performed no more than 72 hours before departure and may apply additional measures such as quarantine or isolation.
A negative PCR test before departure may also be required for people who have recovered from COVID-19, as well as for people who have been vaccinated with an EU-approved vaccine but do not have an EU certificate or equivalent.
According to the document adopted in Brussels, minors over the age of 6 and under the age of 18 who meet the requirements set for adults should also be allowed to travel.
The EU Council has also reviewed the parameters on the basis of which the situation of a third country must be assessed in order to lift the restrictions.
Under the new rules, the number of COVID-19 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in the last 14 days has increased from 75 to 100. The weekly rate of tests per 100,000 inhabitants has also increased from 300 to 600 tests.
Other existing criteria continue to apply, including a stable or decreasing trend in new cases, a 4% positivity rate across all tests performed, progress in vaccination, the presence of variants of interest or of concern and the overall response to COVID-19 in the country.
Reciprocity should continue to be taken into account on a case-by-case basis.
However,
the updated recommendation also indicates that consideration should be given to moving to a person-only approach.
In order to give third countries time to increase their vaccination rates, the recommendation should be reviewed by the Commission by 30 April 2022 to consider deleting the list of countries.
The Commission should report to the Council and if appropriate could present a proposal to delete the list.
