European Council updates travel restrictions

IMPACT – HIGH

The European Union has updated its COVID-19 travel recommendations, removing Algeria from its “green list” of countries for which it recommends lifting entry restrictions. The removal of Algeria comes two weeks after the EU removed Montenegro and Serbia from the list.

Key Points:

• The EU now recommends that member states lift entry restrictions on residents of the following countries: Australia, Canada, China (subject to confirmation of reciprocity), Georgia, Japan, Morocco, New Zealand, Rwanda, South Korea, Thailand, Tunisia and Uruguay.
• Residents of Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and the Vatican are considered EU residents for the purpose of the recommendations.
• Travel restrictions remain in place for residents of all other non-EU/Schengen Area countries.
• In countries where travel restrictions apply, the EU recommends that the following people be exempt:
  • EU citizens and their family.
  • Long-term EU residents and their family.
  • Travelers with essential functions or needs.
• The travel recommendations will be reviewed every two weeks.

Background: On March 16, the EU adopted temporary restriction of all non-essential travel. Restrictions were extended several times. EU member states began lifting travel restrictions earlier this month after the EU recommended lifting some restrictions on July 1.

Analysis & Comments: The EU continues to update its COVID-19 travel recommendations, and while member states have, in many cases, moved to implement the recommendations, exact policies will vary from country to country. Please check Deloitte’s COVID-19 Digital Map, available here, for country-specific information.

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