Council Recommendation (EU) 2021/132 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) 2021/132  introducing a number of amendments to Council Recommendation 2020/912 concerning the temporary restriction on non-essential travel into the European Union (EU) and the possible lifting of such restriction.

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.

As set out by the latest Communication on addressing the pandemic, the rolling out of vaccines takes place alongside a new wave of infections in a context where new variants of the disease take hold across Europe. Therefore, travel is still a particular challenge at this point. All non-essential travel - especially to and from high risk areas - should be strongly discouraged until the epidemiological situation considerably improves. This is supported by the latest assessment published by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).

The proposed amendments concern the carrying out of checks on persons and efficient monitoring of the crossing of external borders. This initiative was published by the European Commission on 25 January 2021. It was adopted by the Council of the European Union on 2 February 2021 and published in the Official Journal on 4 February 2021.

Official

European Commission: Travel during the coronavirus pandemic https://ec.europa.eu/info/live-work-travel-eu/coronavirus-response/travel-during-coronavirus-pandemic_en

EUR-LEX: COM(2021)39: Proposal for a Council Recommendation on the temporary restriction on non-essential travel into the EU and the possible lifting of such restriction, amending Council Recommendation 2020/912 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=COM:2021:39:FIN

European Commission: Press Release, 25/01/2021: Coronavirus: Commission proposes additional safeguards on travel from outside the EU and updated criteria for applying travel restrictions https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_21_194

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 02/02/2021: COVID-19: Council updates recommendation on travel restrictions from third countries into the EU https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2021/02/02/covid-19-council-updates-recommendation-on-travel-restrictions-from-third-countries-into-the-eu/

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