EU Council agrees to start lifting travel restrictions for residents of some third countries

30.06.2020

On June 30, 2020 the EU Council adopted a recommendation according to which the European Union (EU) will open its borders with 14 countries from July 1. 

As from 1 July member states should start lifting the travel restrictions at the external borders for residents of the following third countries:

• Algeria
• Australia
• Canada
• Georgia
• Japan
• Montenegro
• Morocco
• New Zealand
• Rwanda
• Serbia
• South Korea
• Thailand
• Tunisia
• Uruguay

Residents of Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and the Vatican should be considered as EU residents for the purpose of this recommendation said.

The list of these countries does not include the United States and Russia. The document says that China may also be added to the list, if the authorities of this country confirm their willingness to open the borders for EU citizens.

The criteria to determine the third countries for which the current travel restriction should be lifted cover in particular the epidemiological situation and containment measures, including physical distancing, as well as economic and social considerations. 

This list of third countries should be reviewed every two weeks and may be updated by the Council, as the case may be, after close consultations with the Commission and the relevant EU agencies and services following an overall assessment based on the criteria above