ETC Calls for COVID-19 Restriction-Free Travel Into and Within Europe

In a statement issued on Tuesday, May 17, the ETC stressed that they have strongly supported the EU countries to progressively remove restrictions at the current stage. Still, they also assert that it is nevertheless useful to keep the EUDCC available in the event of a possible new outbreak of the virus, AtoZSerwisPlus.com reports.

According to the ETC, it has been noticed that the EUDCC framework has become an international reference standard in which a growing number of third countries are participating.

“This success provides economic and administrative benefits to the EU, proving the value of a collaborative and unified approach to cross-border health credentials, adding sectoral resilience should the need for health controls reoccur,” the statement reads.

The ETC has also called on all policymakers at the EU and international levels to consider removing some measures in the light of milder COVID-19 cases. This includes lifting travel restrictions that have been ineffective in stopping the spread of the virus, mostly delaying a new wave of infection by a few days.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has also underlined the failure of travel restrictions to limit the international spread of the Omicron variant and noted the “ineffectiveness of such measures over time.”

“The verification of EUDCC shall not be used as a reason to impose additional restrictions to the freedom of movement such as the temporary reintroduction of controls at internal borders. Its use should be discontinued as soon as there is a clear indication that the virus has reached a manageable level of transmission that does not severely impact public health,” ETC’s statement also explains.

In order to expand the range of vaccines that can be used as a basis for issuing a EUDCC, all those who have completed the WHO Urgent Use Listing Procedure should be included in the EUDCC, the ETC insists.

In addition, it says that people who are already vaccinated with a vaccine that is not currently on the European Medicines Agency (EMA) or WHO list must still have a fully accepted EUDCC.

If Member States resume using the EUDCC for travel and allow access to bars, restaurants, hotels, museums, sites, concert halls, fairgrounds, and other venues, national rules should also be poisonous to reflect border requirements and travel.

The ETC explains that the Member States should accept all certificates such as vaccination, recovery, or testing accepted at the border at a national level. This would further support the recovery of the EU travel and tourism sector and provide clarity on travellers outside the EU.

The EUDCC also needs to be implemented consistently by the Member States, especially concerning rules for children and those under 18 years of age.

According to the ETC, the European Commission should publish its report on COVID, which was originally expected on April 30m as soon as possible. It should also propose revising the two Council Recommendations on intra-EU and international travel, adopted in January and February.

On the other hand, the White List of epidemiological safe third countries should also be discontinued, thus switching completely to a person-based approach.

The ETC points out that even the updated recommendations should provide for the removal of all restrictions on travel within and within the EU, taking into account now the next season, which is expected to be critical for the recovery of the sector