ETC Calls on EU to Abolish List of Epidemiologically Safe Third Countries
Commenting on the issue, the ETC has noted that the EU and the Member States that are still imposing entry restrictions should lift all restrictions for travel as soon as the situation permits, urging the EU to put an end to the list of epidemiologically safe third countries.
“The White List should be discontinued, moving fully to a person-based approach. The updated Recommendations should also foresee the lifting of all restrictions for travel within and into the EU, as soon as the epidemiological situation allows, especially considering the upcoming season, which is critical for the sector’s recovery,” the ETC urges.
The widely known as “White List of countries” is a list of non-EU/EEA countries that are considered safe for travel from amid the Coronavirus pandemic due to the low rates of infections and high vaccination rates.
The list first became effective in the summer of 2020 in a bid of the EU countries to revive travel and tourism in the bloc. The list is reviewed periodically and adjusted depending on the situation in each third country, taking into account the overall number of infections, vaccination and recovery rates.
While a large share of the EU countries no longer use the list since they have abolished all entry restrictions, some others still apply it. The latter usually permit completely restriction-free entry for travellers from the countries on this list without asking for proof of vaccination, recovery from COVID-19, or even test results.
Currently, this list consists of the following countries:
- Bahrain
- Chile
- China (subject to confirmation of reciprocity)
- Colombia
- Indonesia
- Kuwait
- New Zealand
- Peru
- Qatar
- Rwanda
- Saudi Arabia
- South Korea
- United Arab Emirates
- Uruguay
>> Last time when the list was updated: EU Council Removes Argentina, Australia & Canada From Safe Third Countries List
The ETC also urges the Member States to refrain from using the EU Digital COVID Certificate as a reason to impose additional travel restrictions, emphasizing that even the World Health Organization has concluded that travel restrictions are inefficient in preventing the spread of COVID-19.
It also insists that the list of vaccines accepted for EUDCC issuance should be expanded to include all those that are approved by the WHO and not only those approved by EMA.
