EU/INTERNATIONAL/USA. In a blow for the tourism sector, the European Union (EU) today confirmed that it has recommended member states to reinstate COVID-19-related travel restrictions and stop non-essential travel from six countries including the USA. However, more positively, it also recommended the gradual lifting of travel restrictions for an extensive range of other countries (see list below).
The five countries joining the USA on the recommended restriction list are Israel, Kosovo, Lebanon, Montenegro and North Macedonia. The guidance is non-binding, allowing each individual EU state to decide whether to allow non-essential travel for fully vaccinated travellers.
“This is without prejudice to the possibility for member states to lift the temporary restriction on non-essential travel to the EU for fully vaccinated travellers,” the EU confirmed in a press release.
In a more welcome development, member states were advised from 30 August to gradually lift the travel restrictions for residents of the following countries:
- Albania; Armenia; Australia; Azerbaijan
- Bosnia and Hercegovina; Brunei Darussalam
- Canada
- China, subject to confirmation of reciprocity
- Japan; Jordan
- New Zealand
- Qatar
- Republic of Moldova
- Saudi Arabia; Serbia; Singapore; South Korea
- Ukraine
Travel restrictions should also be gradually lifted for the Special Administrative Regions of China Hong Kong and Macao. Under the category of entities and territorial authorities that are not recognised as states by at least one member state, travel restrictions for Taiwan should also be gradually lifted. Schengen associated countries (Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway, Switzerland) also take part in this recommendation.
The list is compiled on the basis of COVID-19 situation in each country, as well as reciprocity.
Despite EU pressure, the USA does not allow European citizens to visit freely, Reuters said in an earlier report, noting that the trading bloc has been divided between those pushing for equal treatment and those more reliant on tourism and therefore reluctant to restrict US travellers.
