The European Commission recommended, Tuesday, December 22, the lifting of the bans on air and rail links with Great Britain decided upon after the discovery of a new strain of the coronavirus in the United Kingdom.
With this lifting, the European executive wishes to guarantee essential travel and avoid disruptions in supply chains.
However, it advises against non-essential travel to or from the UK.
"Union citizens and UK citizens visiting their Member State or country of residence, as well as third country nationals who enjoy free movement rights in the EU should be exempted from any additional temporary restrictions provided whether they undergo a test or quarantine ", specifies the recommendation.
"Transport personnel, within the EU, should be exempt from any travel bans across any border and from testing and quarantine requirements when crossing a border on their way to a ship, vehicle or vessel. plane and back, ”adds the recommendation.
The agreement of the Member States is not certain
Most EU member states have suspended air, sea, rail and road connections and travel with the UK after a variant of the virus emerged there.
The measures were taken "as a precaution" for a period of 24 to 48 hours, but Germany and Luxembourg have decided to extend the closure of their borders until January 6.
The recommendation was requested from the Commission to allow the return of lorry drivers stranded in the United Kingdom by the closure of the Channel Tunnel.
These recommendations will be submitted to EU ambassadors during the day.
But the agreement of member states is not certain, warned a European diplomat.
With Reuters and AFP
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