Restrictions on vaccines and non-essential travel: the changes they are considering in Europe to accommodate tourists

On the eve of the summer season, the old continent seeks to relax some restrictions related to tourism, by allowing the entry of vaccinated travelers outside the block with vaccines approved by its regulatory agency, the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

After a difficult time in Europe with closed borders, stranded cities and tens of thousands of deaths from COVID-19, vaccines arrived in late 2020 and early 2021 to offer the first signs of normalcy.

To slow the spread of the coronavirus and protect the health and well-being of all Europeans, some travel restrictions were necessary. There is currently a temporary restriction on non-essential travel to the EU from many non-EU countries.

On 11 June 2020, the European Commission submitted a proposal for a Council recommendation establishing a phased approach to lift the travel restriction for a list of third countries approved by the Member States, on the basis of a set of principles and criteria Goals. Thus, it was agreed that travel restrictions should be gradually lifted at the external borders for residents of Australia; New Zealand: Rwanda; Singapore: South Korea; Thailand; and China (the latter subject to confirmation of reciprocity).

Almost a year after the move, more travelers could start entering Europe for non-essential reasons. On 3 May 2021, the Commission proposed to Member States to ease restrictions on non-essential travel to the EU, taking into account the ongoing vaccination campaigns and the evolving epidemiological situation around the world.

The Commission proposal foresees allowing entry to all people from countries where the epidemiological situation is good, as well as to all people who have received the recommended dose of a vaccine authorized by the EU. “This could be extended to vaccines which have completed the process of inclusion in the World Health Organization (WHO) emergency use list,” the EC added.

The vaccines which have so far received authorization from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) are those of Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson. But there are several at different stages of evaluation by the EMA, including the Russian Sputnik V.

The Commission is also proposing to raise the threshold related to COVID-19 cases which is used to determine the list of countries from which travel should be allowed. To limit the risk of new variants of COVID-19 entering the EU, a new ’emergency brake’ mechanism will be coordinated at EU level. The Council is currently examining this proposal.

As it turned out, the proposal will be examined during this week at the technical level, with the aim that an agreement will be possible before the end of the month and the change it could be applied “at the beginning of June”. In any case, the proposal of the Community executive underlines that the fact that vaccinated travelers can travel to European destinations does not mean that they can do so “without conditions”, because it will be up to each Member State to decide. whether they need to comply with other measures on arrival, such as quarantine or performing a diagnostic test.

Measures for travelers

On February 2, 2021, the Council of the European Union updated its recommendation on travel restrictions from third countries to the EU. EU countries should force people to travel for any essential or non-essential reason, with the exception of transport and cross-border workers, let it be done a negative PCR test at least 72 hours before departure.

In addition, may require self-isolation, quarantine and contact tracing for a period of up to 14 days, plus additional COVID-19 testing as needed during the same period. Quarantine and additional testing should be imposed on arrival or after arrival, especially on travelers from a third country where a worrying variant of the virus has been detected.

Regarding the essential trips, EU countries may decide, in a coordinated manner, to waive some of the above measures in cases where they interfere with the very purpose of the trip.

Reopen the EU

To find out about the restrictions and measures to take to travel in the different EU countries, the block has compiled all the information into a tool called “Reopen the EU“, What gives an overview of the health situation in European countries, based on data from the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).

The information is updated frequently and makes it possible to follow the evolution of the coronavirus situation. It also provides information on the various restrictions in place, in particular on quarantine and testing requirements for travelers and on mobile contact tracing and coronavirus alert applications. Today, this tool is almost essential for planning a trip to Europe.

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