The European Union has confirmed on Wednesday that it will opening its borders to visitors and tourists. Some of its recommendations have been published. This week it will sign a list of “safe destinations.” However, the dates of opening its borders have not yet been mentioned. Individual member states will have some flexibility on the measure they can impose. so, quarantine measures could still be imposed by some country while others could require a negative PCR and/or proof of vaccination.
On Thursday, the EU is expected to release an official set of recommendations on its members, though these are non-binding. Travelers who have been vaccinated with EU approved COVID-19 vaccines could enter the bloc. CNN reported that the bloc said it would take reciprocity into account when it drew up the list of safe countries. Earlier this month, Greece, which is highly dependent on tourism, announced lifting the travel ban.
Early May, the European Union had indicated that it could open in the next month for those who were fully vaccinated. It noted that non-essential travel would be allowed as the tourism industry needed a boost but there could be an “emergency brake” in case of another wave of infection.
The approved list of vaccines included.
- BioNTech/Pfizer
- Oxford University/AstraZeneca
- Johnson & Johnson
- Moderna
The proposal also stated that individual countries could make decisions about their borders. Each member state would decide whether it would implement the recommendations of the bloc.
As the summer begins, officials are optimistic that the new rules will revive the tourism industry which has borne the brunt of the downslide in the economy of the bloc countries. Some of the countries who are heavily dependent on tourism have already opened to nonessential travel.
Greece
The country has officially been open from May 14. It allows vaccinated travelers. Those who have a negative COVID-19 PCR test 72 hours before arrival can also enter the country.
Iceland
Iceland, which is a not a member of the bloc but is of the European Economic area allowed vaccinated travelers in April.
Croatia
The country also allows vaccinated travelers or those with a negative PCR test or proof of recovery from COVID-19 in the past 180 days and not less than 11 days before arrival.
Cyprus
The island opened its borders to vaccinated travelers from 65 countries including the U.K. and the U.S.
Portugal
The country is allowing travelers from England, Scotland, and Wales after it was added on the U. K’s “green list.”
