The Portuguese Presidency's proposal for a free pass for travelers already vaccinated against covid-19 was unanimously approved by the Member States.
It should be noted that this proposal is, ao mesmo tempo, an emergency brake. Ou seja, allow the introduction of urgent and temporary restrictions on all travel to the EU, that must be triggered when the epidemiological situation in a region or third country deteriorates rapidly, and in particular if a variant is detected.
Inserted to the same extent, the criteria for the reopening of the EU's external borders were also agreed.
The compromise will be formally adopted today (20).
The text provides for a series of criteria for lifting restrictions on non-essential travel by third-country nationals and, according to the commitment, when EU Member States accept proof of vaccination to remove restrictions such as the imposition of tests and quarantines, must, in principle, lift non-essential travel restrictions for travelers from third countries who have received the last recommended dose of an EMA approved vaccine, pelo menos 14 days before arrival.
The text also admits the possibility of lifting restrictions on those who have received, also at least 14 days before, all doses of a vaccine approved for emergency use by the World Health Organization (OMS).
