Council Recommendation (EU) 2020/1475 on a coordinated approach to the restriction of free movement in response to the COVID-19 pandemic

Summary:

Recommendation adopted by the Council of the European Union on 13 October 2020 aimed at ensuring the coordination and timely communication at the EU level of measures taken by Member States that restrict free movement due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. This is a text with EEA relevance.

Further information:

The  Recommendation sets out four key areas where Member States should work closer together:

• Common criteria and thresholds for Member States when deciding whether to introduce travel restrictions;
• Mapping of common criteria using an agreed colour code;
• A common framework for measures applied to travellers from high-risk areas;
• Clear and timely information to the public about any restrictions.

This proposal was first tabled by the European Commission on 9 September. It was adopted by the Council of the European Union on 13 October 2020 and published in the Official Journal on the following day.

• Primary Source

News

Bloomberg, 05/10/2020: New EU Travel Plan Could Bring Clarity, Relief for Airlines https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-10-05/europe-airlines-could-get-clarity-relief-in-new-eu-travel-plan

Kathimerini, 09/10/2020: EU agrees common 'traffic light' system for coronavirus travel https://www.ekathimerini.com/257913/article/ekathimerini/news/eu-agrees-common-traffic-light-system-for-coronavirus-travel

Reuters, 09/10/2020: EU agrees common 'traffic light' system for coronavirus travel https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSL8N2GZ51M

RTÉ News, 12/10/2020: Traffic light system welcomed as positive first step to allow international travel https://www.rte.ie/news/2020/1012/1170922-covid19-coronavirus-travel/

France24, 13/10/2020: EU nations agree to new coronavirus travel guidelines https://www.france24.com/en/20201013-eu-nations-agree-to-new-coronavirus-travel-guidelines

Deutsche Welle, 13/10/2020: EU agrees on common coronavirus travel rules https://p.dw.com/p/3jps5

Euronews, 13/10/2020: Coronavirus: EU agrees traffic light system for travel amid COVID-19 second wave https://www.euronews.com/2020/10/13/coronavirus-eu-agrees-traffic-light-system-for-travel-amid-covid-19-second-wave

AP News, 13/10/2020: EU countries adopt common travel guidelines amid pandemic https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-travel-international-news-business-pandemics-ceac3bbe3f024b4b96c54b172f849e20

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Official

EUR-Lex: COM(2020)499: Proposal for a Council Recommendation on a coordinated approach to the restriction of free movement in response to the COVID-19 pandemic https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=COM:2020:499:FIN

European Commission: Press Release, 04/09/2020: Coronavirus: Commission proposes more clarity and predictability of any measures restricting free movement in the European Union https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_20_1555

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 13/10/2020: COVID-19: Council adopts a recommendation to coordinate measures affecting free movement https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2020/10/13/covid-19-council-adopts-a-recommendation-to-coordinate-measures-affecting-free-movement/

European Commission: Statement on the coordination of measures restricting free movement in the European Union related to the coronavirus pandemic (13 October 2020) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/statement_20_1871

European Commission: Questions & Answers on the coordination of measures restricting free movement in the European Union related to the coronavirus pandemic (13 October 2020) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/qanda_20_1875

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