A press release indicates that, on 13 December, the Council of the EU updated [its] travel recommendations so as to lift all Covid-19-related travel restrictions.
For travel from non-EU countries, “[w]here necessary to address a severe worsening of the epidemiological situation, Member States should decide in a coordinated manner to reintroduce appropriate requirements for travellers prior to departure. These could include vaccination, proof of recovery or testing. Member States could also apply appropriate requirements for travellers prior to departure”.
When a variant of concern or interest emerges in a non-EU country, “Member States might exceptionally establish an urgent, common and temporary travel restriction or travel requirements”.
For free movement within the EU, if a Member State believes that restrictions are necessary due to a severe worsening of the [epidemiological] situation, these restrictions are expected to be limited to requiring travellers to be in possession of a valid Digital COVID Certificate.
Individuals who do not have a certificate could be required to undergo a test prior to or after their arrival. An ‘emergency brake’ procedure is being maintained in the event there is a new variant. In that case, a Member State could require travellers to undergo quarantine or testing, even if they have an EU Digital COVID Certificate.
Links to the recommendations: https://aeur.eu/f/4my and https://aeur.eu/f/4mz (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)