European Commission wants fewer Covid travel curbs

The European Commission wants governments to further lift restrictions on travel between EU member states, with vaccinated and recovered travellers exempt from quarantine and testing requirements.

Travel restrictions have limited air travel and jet fuel consumption in the EU.

The commission wants to update a recommendation, now adopted by EU states, on free movement restrictions in the EU because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Other proposals include updating common criteria for risk areas and an emergency brake to address new Covid-19 variants.

EU justice commissioner Didier Reynders said there has been a continuous downwards trend in infection numbers because of vaccination campaigns. The EU is still in a pandemic but needs to ensure free movement without putting public health at risk, Reynders said.

The commission recommends that fully vaccinated persons with EU digital Covid certificates should be exempted from testing or quarantine from 14 days after the last dose. Recovered persons with a single dose of a two-dose vaccine should also not face restrictions. Recovered persons should also not face restrictions during the first 180 days after a positive test.

It also recommends exempting minors travelling with their parents who are exempt from quarantine because of vaccination or recovery. Children under six years should not face travel-related testing.

The commission's proposal today seeks to amend a recommendation on travel restrictions adopted in October 2020. The recommendation is not legally binding on EU member states that normally retain competence over health matters and related travel restrictions. But EU states could face legal action at the European Court of Justice if they were to restrict free movement without due reason.

The European Parliament and EU member states earlier this month agreed to a digital Covid-19 certificate aimed at removing testing and quarantine requirements by third country nationals into the EU.

By Dafydd ab Iago