Europe unveils plan to ease travel restrictions

Regulators have outlined plans to ease restrictions into European Union states for travellers that are either fully vaccinated against the coronavirus or from countries where the pandemic has been controlled. The EC’s proposal, which paves the way to reopening EU tourism markets, reflects progress of vaccination programmes and scientific evidence of their role in breaking the transmission chain. Commission president Ursula von der Leyen today tweeted: “Time to revive EU tourism industry & for cross-border friendships to rekindle – safely. We propose to welcome again vaccinated visitors & those from countries with a good health situation. But if variants emerge we have to act fast: we propose an EU emergency brake mechanism,” she adds. The Commission’s proposal, released on 3 May, would allow travellers into the bloc who have received their last dose of an EU-approved vaccine at least 14 days before arrival. It envisages travellers proving their vaccination status with a “Digital Green Certificate” issued by EU states, or with other equivalent methods of proof. The EU put forward its Digital Green Certificate proposals in March. EU members should accept certificates from non-EU countries based on national law, says the commission.<br/>