Travelers from Canada, Qatar, Saudi Arabia Should be Allowed to Enter the EU, Says Council

Photo © European Union – EP

The European Council on Thursday added Canada, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and a number of other destinations to its updated list of third countries, special administrative regions and other entities for which Covid-19 restrictions should be lifted for travel into the EU.

According to the Council, following a review of its recommendation on the gradual lifting of the temporary restrictions on non-essential travel into the EU, member states as from July 1 should gradually open their external borders for residents of the following third countries:

• Albania
• Armenia (new)
• Australia
• Azerbaijan (new)
• Bosnia and Herzegovina (new)
• Brunei Darussalam (new)
• Canada (new)
• China (subject to confirmation of reciprocity)
• Israel
• Japan
• Jordan (new)
• Lebanon
• Montenegro (new)
• New Zealand
• Qatar (new)
• Republic of Moldova (new)
• Republic of North Macedonia
• Rwanda
• Saudi Arabia (new)
• Serbia
• Singapore
• South Korea
• Thailand
• United States of America

Photo © European Union – EP

Travel restrictions should also be gradually lifted for the two special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macao.

In the category of entities and territorial authorities that are not recognised as states by at least one member state, travel restrictions for Taiwan and Kosovo (new) should also be gradually lifted.

The Council recommendation is not a legally binding instrument. The authorities of the member states remain responsible for implementing the content of the recommendation. They may, in full transparency, lift only progressively travel restrictions towards countries listed.

“A member state should not decide to lift the travel restrictions for non-listed third countries before this has been decided in a coordinated manner,” the Council says.

The Council’s list will continue to be reviewed every two weeks and, as the case may be, updated.