Council Recommendation (EU) 2021/961 amending Recommendation (EU) 2020/1475 on a coordinated approach to the restriction of free movement in response to the COVID-19 pandemic

Summary:

Recommendation (EU) 2021/961 - adopted by the Council of the European Union on 14 June 2021 - introducing amendments to Recommendation (EU) 2020/1475 on a coordinated approach to the restriction of free movement in response to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. This is a text with EEA relevance.

Further information:

Recommendation (EU) 200/1475 established a coordinated approach on a number of points, including the application of common criteria and thresholds when deciding whether to introduce restrictions to free movement, a mapping of the risk of COVID-19 transmission based on an agreed colour code, and a coordinated approach as to the measures, if any, which may appropriately be applied to persons moving between areas, depending on the level of risk of transmission in those areas.

The update responds to the evolving epidemiological situation, the vaccination campaigns carried out across the European Union (EU) and the adoption of the EU Digital COVID Certificate.

The Recommendation includes two additional criteria to be taken into account when considering whether to restrict free movement: the vaccination uptake and the prevalence of COVID-19 variants of concern or interest. It also raises the thresholds for including an area in one of the four defined colours in the relevant maps.

The amendments to the Recommendation were adopted by the Council of the European Union on 14 June 2021 and adopted in the Official Journal on 16 June 2021.

Official

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 14/06/2021: COVID-19: Council updates recommendation on free movement restrictions https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2021/06/14/covid-19-council-updates-recommendation-on-free-movement-restrictions/

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