Member States' ambassadors to the Permanent Representatives Committee (Coreper) decided on 2 September not to amend the current EU list of third countries whose nationals are allowed to travel to the EU for non-essential journeys.
Two diplomatic sources have confirmed to EUROPE that "no changes have been made" to this list as last amended on 7 August (see EUROPE 12544/8). There are currently 11 third countries with an epidemiological situation considered similar or better than that of EU countries in terms of the number of infections per 100,000 inhabitants.
The list includes Tunisia, Thailand, New Zealand, Australia, Canada, Georgia, Japan, Rwanda, South Korea, Uruguay and China (subject to reciprocity).
The national ambassadors were expected to raise this issue again in the context of a broader discussion on Wednesday afternoon on coordination between Member States on health instructions for travel restrictions in the EU (see other news).
In this context, according to a diplomatic source, it was also possible that the subject of internal border controls as a response to the pandemic might be raised in the light of the Hungarian decision notified to the Commission on 31 August (see EUROPE 12549/6). (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)