Council Recommendation (EU) 2021/816 amending Recommendation (EU) 2020/912 on the temporary restriction on non-essential travel into the EU and the possible lifting of such restriction

Summary:

Recommendation (EU) 2021/816 - adopted by the Council of the European Union on 20 May 2021 -  introducing amendments to Council Recommendation (EU) 2020/912 concerning the imposition of temporary restrictions on non-essential travel into the European Union (EU).

Further information:

Recommendation (EU) 2020/912 concerns the imposition of temporary restrictions on non-essential travel into the European Union (EU) and the conditions for lifting such restrictions.

The Commission's Communication A Common Path to Safe and Sustained Re-Opening outlined the intention to continuously review the approach set out in the Recommendation. Considering that the epidemiological situation in third countries is heterogeneous, the Commission proposes a two-way approach. This includes a proposal to progressively resume non-essential travel from third countries in view of successful vaccination campaigns, and also the establishment of an emergency break mechanism to prevent the dissemination of potential COVID-19 variants.

The draft law was tabled by the European Commission on 3 May 2021. The Council of the European Union adopted the proposal on 20 May 2021. The Recommendation was published in the Official Journal on the following day.

Official

EUR-LEX: COM(2021)232: Proposal for a Council Recommendation amending Council Recommendation (EU) 2020/912 on the temporary restriction on non-essential travel into the EU and the possible lifting of such restriction https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=COM:2021:232:FIN

European Commission: Press Release, 03/05/2021: Coronavirus: Commission proposes to ease restrictions on non-essential travel to the EU while addressing variants through new ‘emergency brake' mechanism https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_21_2121

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 20/05/2021: COVID-19: Council updates recommendation on restrictions to travel from third countries https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2021/05/20/covid-19-council-updates-recommendation-on-restrictions-to-travel-from-third-countries/

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News

BBC News, 03/05/2021: EU unveils plans for overseas tourists to return https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-56970398

Euronews, 03/05/2021: EU Commission recommends opening up to fully vaccinated non-EU travellers https://www.euronews.com/2021/05/03/eu-commission-recommends-entry-of-fully-vaccinated-non-eu-travellers

The Guardian, 03/05/2021: EU plans to reopen to fully Covid-vaccinated foreign tourists from June https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/may/03/eu-plans-to-reopen-to-fully-covid-vaccinated-foreign-tourists-from-june

The Irish Times, 03/05/2021: EU plans to open international travel to fully vaccinated https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/europe/eu-plans-to-open-international-travel-to-fully-vaccinated-1.4554185

ITV News, 03/05/2021: Covid: EU plans to reopen borders for non-essential travel, giving hope to holidaymakers https://www.itv.com/news/2021-05-02/mps-urge-ministers-to-discourage-foreign-holidays

Reuters, 03/05/2021: EU aims to open up to foreign tourists this summer amidst COVID-19 https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/eu-executive-recommends-opening-europe-foreign-travellers-2021-05-03/

Deutsche Welle, 03/05/2021: EU considers lifting entry restrictions for vaccinated travelers https://p.dw.com/p/3ssqY

RTÉ News, 03/05/2021: Ireland to join EU discussion on easing non-essential travel restrictions https://www.rte.ie/news/coronavirus/2021/0503/1213468-european-travel-commission/

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