On Tuesday 30 June, Member States finally approved, by written procedure, the first European list of non-Member State whose citizens will be allowed to return to the EU for non-essential travel from 1 July (see EUROPE 12516/1).
It includes the following countries: Canada, Australia, Uruguay, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Rwanda, Thailand, Georgia, Serbia and Montenegro. China has been set aside on the basis of reciprocity: its residents will only be able to travel to the EU again when Beijing accepts once more accepts EU travellers on Chinese soil.
The United States, Brazil, Russia or Turkey are not on this initial list, since the criterion is that the average number of infections per 100,000 inhabitants over the last two weeks should be close to or below the European average (currently 16/100,000).
Deciding upon this list was difficult: economic and diplomatic interests had to be reconciled and the reliability of the data had to be guaranteed. This list also remains indicative as a Member State may choose not to open up to all these countries. It will be reviewed every two weeks and countries may be added or removed. The list was approved by a large majority (with a qualified majority being required).
Poland abstained for reasons of data analysis, but is not opposed to the content of the list.
Ireland, which shares a common travel zone with the United Kingdom, is not taking part in this decision and neither is Denmark, under the police opt-out. However, Copenhagen will have to make its intentions known within six months.
Link to the EU Council Recommendation: https://bit.ly/3ii2PKg (Original article in French by Solenn Paulic)