Proposal for a COUNCIL RECOMMENDATION amending Council Recommendation (EU) 2020/912 on the temporary restriction on non-essential travel into the EU and the possible lifting of such restriction
Date: 2021-11-25
Institutions: Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs, European Commission
Subjects: EU restrictive measure, Schengen Agreement, border control, coronavirus disease, epidemic, health certificate, internal border of the EU, third country, travel, vaccination

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   EUROPEAN COMMISSION  Brussels, 25.11.2021  COM(2021) 754 final 2021/0397 (NLE)  Proposal for a COUNCIL RECOMMENDATION amending Council Recommendation (EU) 2020/912 on the temporary restriction on non-essential travel into the EU and the possible lifting of such restriction  
 
EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 

1. 

• 

CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL 

Reasons for and objectives of the proposal 

Since  the  last  amendment  to  Recommendation  (EU)  2020/912,  that  the  Council  adopted  on 
20 May  20211,  the  Parliament  and  the  Council  adopted  Regulation  (EU)  2021/953  on  a 
framework  for  the  issuance,  verification  and  acceptance  of  interoperable  COVID-19 
vaccination,  test  and  recovery  certificates  (EU  Digital  COVID  Certificate)  to  facilitate  free 
movement  during  the  COVID-19  pandemic  and  Regulation  (EU)  2021/954  on  a  framework 
for the issuance, verification and acceptance of interoperable COVID-19 vaccination, test and 
recovery  certificates  (EU  Digital  COVID  Certificate)  with  regard  to  third-country  nationals 
legally  staying  or  residing  in  the  territories  of  Member  States  during  the  COVID-19 
pandemic.  

Considering  that  vaccination  has  played  a  major  role  in  restoring  travel  to  the  EU,  the 
Commission  proposes  to  amend  Recommendation  (EU)  2020/912  to  establish  a  clear  link 
between the Recommendation and the EU Digital COVID Certificate so to assist the Member 
States authorities in verifying the authenticity, validity and integrity of the certificates issued 
by third countries.  

Furthermore,  on  22  October  2021,  the  European  Council  called  for  further  coordination  to 
facilitate of travel into the EU. It is, therefore, proposed to increase the threshold of the ‘14-
day  cumulative  COVID-19  case  notification  rate’  from  75  to  100  (the  average  rate  in  the 
EU/EEA on 14 November 2021 was 473,8 per 100 000 inhabitants), while at the same time 
raising the weekly testing rate from 300 to 600 per 100 000 inhabitants, to take account of the 
general  increase  in  testing  capacities  (the  average  weekly  rate  in  the  EU/EEA  on  14 
November 2021 was above 5 000 tests per 100 000 inhabitants). 

Taking into account the guidance of ECDC regarding the administration of booster doses as 
of  6  months  after  completion  of  the  primary  vaccination  series,  and  while  providing  for  an 
additional  period  of  3  months  to  ensure  that  national  vaccination  campaigns  can  adjust  and 
citizens can have access to the administration of boosters, a standard acceptance period of 9 
months  following  the  completion  of  the  primary  vaccination  series  is  being  proposed.  To 
ensure  a  coordinated  approach,  Member  States  should  not  accept  vaccination  certificates 
issued following the completion of the primary vaccination series if more than 9 months have 
passed since the administration of the dose indicated therein.  

Finally, even though the vaccination uptake continues to increase worldwide and several third 
countries  progressively  reopen  their  borders  to  international  travellers  who  are  fully 
vaccinated,  a  possibility  that  the  EU  has  offered  since  20  May  2021,  the  Commission 
considers  it  premature  to  make  a  full  and  immediate  shift  from  the  current  hybrid 
country/person-based to a purely person-based approach as it would penalise travellers from 
third  countries  with  a  low  vaccination  rate.  Therefore,  Annex  I  (Third  countries,  Special 
Administrative  Regions  and  other  entities  and  territorial  authorities  whose  residents  should 
not be affected by temporary external borders restriction on non-essential travel into the EU) 
should  only  be  discontinued  and  the  relevant  provisions  deleted  on  1  May  2022.  This  will 

1 

Council Recommendation (EU) 2021/816 20 May 2021 amending Recommendation (EU) 2020/912 on 
the temporary restriction on non-essential travel into the EU and the possible lifting of such restriction 
(OJ L 182, 21.5.2021, p. 1). 

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simplify the content of the Recommendation and reduce the administrative burden linked to 
its implementation.  

• 

Consistency with existing policy provisions in the policy area 

This proposal for a recommendation serves to implement the existing provisions in the policy 
area,  namely  carrying  out  checks  on  persons  and  monitoring  efficiently  the  crossing  of 
external borders.  

• 

Consistency with other Union policies 

This recommendation is in line with other Union policies, including those regarding external 
relations and public health.  

2. 

• 

LEGAL BASIS, SUBSIDIARITY AND PROPORTIONALITY 

Legal basis 

The  Treaty  on  the  Functioning  of  the  European  Union  (TFEU),  and  in  particular  points  (b) 
and (e) of Article 77(2) and Article 292, first and second sentence, thereof.  

• 

Subsidiarity (for non-exclusive competence)  

Ensuring  the  proper  functioning  of  the  area  without  controls  at  internal  borders  between 
Member  States  is  a  joint  endeavour  and  shared  responsibility  that  requires  a  coherent  and 
coordinated approach, including in particular, as regards restrictions for non-essential travel to 
the EU. The objective of ensuring a coordinated approach cannot be sufficiently achieved by 
the Member States acting alone, and can be better achieved at the level of the Union. 

• 

Proportionality 

The present proposal takes account of the evolving epidemiological situation and all available 
relevant evidence. The proposed amendments to the Council Recommendation 2020/912 will 
reduce  the  administrative  burden  by  relaxing  the  travel  restictions  in  place  and  ultimately 
removig  the  country-based  approach  reflected  in  the  Annex  I  to  the  Recommendation. 
Therefore,  the  proposal  is  suitable  for  achieving  the  intended  objective  and  does  not  go 
beyond what is necessary and proportionate.  

• 

Choice of the instrument 

This proposal has the objective to amend Council Recommendation 2020/912. This objective 
requires another Council Recommendation. 

RESULTS 
CONSULTATIONS AND IMPACT ASSESSMENTS 

EX-POST 

EVALUATIONS, 

OF 

STAKEHOLDER 

Ex-post evaluations/fitness checks of existing legislation 

3. 

• 

N/A 

• 

Stakeholder consultations 

This proposal takes into account discussions with Member States since the implementation of 
the first temporary restrictions to non-essential travel. No impact assessment was undertaken 
although  the  proposal  takes  into  account  the  evolving  epidemiological  situation  and  all 
available relevant evidence.  

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• 

Collection and use of expertise 

This  proposal  is  based  on  the  incremental  scientific  expertise  concerning  the  virus 
SARS‑CoV‑2,  its  way  of  spreading,  its  variations  in  more  contagious  and  severe  strains 
(variants  of  interest  and  variants  of  concern),  as  well  as  the  efficacy  of  vaccination  and  of 
non-pharmaceutical  intervention  in  containing  the  spreading  of  this  virus.  The  scientific 
evidence  used  is  mainly  that  produced  by  the  European  Centre  for  Disease  Prevention  and 
Control (ECDC) and by the World Health Organisation (WHO). 

4. 

BUDGETARY IMPLICATIONS 

None. 

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2021/0397 (NLE) 

Proposal for a 

COUNCIL RECOMMENDATION 

amending Council Recommendation (EU) 2020/912 on the temporary restriction on non-
essential travel into the EU and the possible lifting of such restriction 

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, 

Having  regard  to  the  Treaty  on  the  Functioning  of  the  European  Union,  and  in  particular 
Article 77(2), points (b) and (e), and Article 292, first and second sentence thereof, 

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission, 

Whereas: 

(1) 

(2) 

(3) 

(4) 

(5) 

2 

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On  30  June  2020,  the  Council  adopted  Recommendation  (EU)  2020/912  on  the 
temporary  restriction  on  non-essential  travel  into  the  EU  and  the  possible  lifting  of 
such restriction2.  

On  2  February  2021,  the  Council  amended  Recommendation  (EU)  2020/912  on  the 
temporary  restriction  on  non-essential  travel  into  the  EU  and  the  possible  lifting  of 
such restriction3 to update the criteria used to assess whether non-essential travel from 
third countries is safe and should be allowed. 

The  same  amendment  introduced  mechanisms  to  contain  the  spread  of  variants  of 
concern of the virus SARS-COV-2 in the EU4. 
On 20 May 2021, the Council amended Recommendation (EU) 2020/9125 to take into 
account the roll-out and the positive effects of the vaccination campaigns in containing 
the spread of the virus, as well as in order to further contain the importation and spread 
into the EU of the emerging variants of interest and of concern. 
On 14 June 2021, the Parliament and the Council adopted Regulations (EU) 2021/9536 
and  (EU)  2021/9547  on  EU  Digital  COVID  Certificate.  The  EU  Digital  COVID 
Certificate has proved to be a fundamental tool to help restore travel within the EU. 

Council Recommendation (EU) 2020/912 of 30 June 2020 on the temporary restriction on non-essential 
travel into the EU and the possible lifting of such restriction (OJ LI 208, 1.7.2020, p. 1). 
Council  Recommendation  (EU)  2021/132  of  2  February  2021  amending  Recommendation  (EU) 
2020/912  on  the  temporary  restriction  on  non-essential  travel  into  the  EU  and  the  possible  lifting  of 
such restriction (OJ L 41, 4.2.2021, p. 1). 
The  “EU+  area”  includes  all  Schengen  Member  States  (including  Bulgaria,  Croatia,  Cyprus  and 
Romania), as well as the four Schengen Associated States. It also includes Ireland if Ireland decides to 
align.  
Council Recommendation (EU) 2021/816 of 20 May 2021 amending Recommendation (EU) 2020/912 
on  the  temporary  restriction  on  non-essential  travel  into  the  EU  and  the  possible  lifting  of  such 
restriction (OJ L 182, 21.5.2021, p. 1). 
Regulation  (EU) 2021/953  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the  Council  of  14 June  2021  on  a 
framework  for  the  issuance,  verification  and  acceptance  of  interoperable  COVID-19  vaccination,  test 
and  recovery  certificates  (EU  Digital  COVID  Certificate)  to  facilitate  free  movement  during  the 
COVID-19 pandemic. 

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(6) 

(7) 

(8) 

(9) 

Since the adoption of Regulation (EU) 2021/953, the Commission has adopted several 
implementing  acts  establishing  that  COVID-19  certificates  issued  by  a  certain  third 
country are to be considered as equivalent to certificates issued by Member States in 
accordance  with  that  Regulation.  Vaccination,  recovery  and  test  certificates  covered 
by such implementing acts can thus be securely and reliable authenticated. Therefore, 
the  EU  Digital  COVID  Certificate,  and  in  particular  the  implementing  decisions 
adopted  on  this  basis,  have  also  facilitated  the  safe  reopening  of  travel  from  third 
countries to the EU.8 

Considering  the  evolution  of  the  pandemic,  as  well  as  the  increasing  vaccination 
uptake  and  the  progressive  lifting  of  travel  restrictions  worldwide,  the  current 
approach  set  out  in  Recommendation  (EU)  2020/912  should  be  updated  to  take 
account of the establishment of the EU Digital COVID certificate. 

On  22  October  2021,  the  European  Council  in  its  conclusions,  in  light  of  the 
development  of  the  epidemiological  situation,  called  for  further  coordination  to 
facilitate free movement within, and travel into, the EU, and for a revision of the two 
Recommendations, including Council Recommendation (EU) 2020/912. 

The  standard  acceptance  period  for  vaccination  certificates  issued  following  the 
completion of a primary vaccination series should be set at 9 months. This takes into 
account the guidance of ECDC regarding the administration of booster doses as of 6 
months  after  completion  of  the  primary  vaccination  series,  and  provides  for  an 
additional period of 3 months to ensure that national vaccination campaigns can adjust 
and citizens can have access to the administration of boosters. To ensure a coordinated 
approach,  Member  States  should  not  accept  vaccination  certificates  issued  following 
the  completion  of  the  primary  vaccination  series  if  more  than  9  months have  passed 
since the administration of the dose indicated therein.  

(10)  To further facilitate safe travel into the EU, the threshold  for the 14-days cumulative 
COVID-19  case  notification  rate  should  be  increased  from  75  to  100  per  100  000 
inhabitants. At the same time and to take account of the enhanced testing capabilities 
almost two years after the first appearance of the virus, the required minimum weekly 
testing  rate  should  also  be  increased  from  300  to  600  tests  per  100  000  inhabitants. 
This should further increase the reliability of the data used to determine to what extent 
non-essential travel should be possible from a given third country.  

(11)  To better allow for non-essential travel into the Union and to increase predictability for 
third-country  travellers,  Member  States  should  not  only  accept  COVID-19  vaccines 
that  have  been  granted  a  marketing  authorisation  pursuant  to  Regulation  (EC) 
No 726/2004  of  the  European Parliament  and  of  the  Council9  but  also  those  having 
completed the emergency listing procedure of the World Health Organisation (WHO). 

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Regulation  (EU) 2021/954  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the  Council  of  14 June  2021  on  a 
framework  for  the  issuance,  verification  and  acceptance  of  interoperable  COVID-19  vaccination,  test 
and recovery certificates (EU Digital COVID Certificate) with regard to third-country nationals legally 
staying or residing in the territories of Member States during the COVID-19 pandemic. 
The updated list of equivalence decisions is published on the following webpage : 
https://ec.europa.eu/info/publications/commission-implementing-decisions-eu-equivalence-covid-19-
certificates-issued-non-eu-countries_en  
Regulation (EC) No 726/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 March 2004 laying 
down  Union  procedures  for  the  authorisation  and  supervision  of  medicinal  products  for  human  and 
veterinary use and establishing a European Medicines Agency (OJ L 136, 30.4.2004, p. 1). 

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(12)  Furthermore, as alternative to vaccination, Member States should allow non-essential 
travel to persons having recovered from COVID-19 within 180 days prior to travelling 
to  the  EU  and  who  hold  an  EU  Digital  COVID  certificate  or  one  having  been 
recognised as equivalent to it.  

(13)  At the same time, to further reduce the risk of transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, 
Member  States  should  also  require  a  valid  proof  of  a  negative  real-time  polymerase 
chain  reaction  (RT-PCR)  test  before  departure  when  the  traveller  has  either  (i) 
received  a  COVID-19  vaccine  having  completed  the  WHO  Emergency  Use  Listing 
process but that does not appear on the list of vaccines authorised in the EU pursuant to 
Regulation (EC) No 726/2004 or (ii) recovered from COVID-19 within 180 days prior 
to travelling to the EU.  

(14)  Children above the age of 6 and under the age of 18 should be able to travel under the 
condition of having tested negative to a RT-PCR test before departure. In these cases, 
Member  States  could  require  additional  testing  after  arrival,  quarantine  or  self-
isolation.  

(15) 

In  consideration  of  the  increasing  vaccination  uptake  worldwide,  it  is  considered 
appropriate to gradually move from the current hybrid country/person-based approach 
to a purely person-based approach and therefore to remove the Annex I and  base the 
lifting  of  travel  restrictions  solely  on  the  vaccination  status  or  the  function/need 
fulfilled  by  travellers.  However,  at  the  moment  there  are  still  third  countries  with 
either a limited access to vaccines or a low vaccination rate. Therefore, to give time to 
third countries to increase their vaccination rates and upon a prior general assessment 
of the vaccination situation in third countries based on data supplied, among others, by 
the  EU  Delegations,  Annex  I  and  the  relevant  provisions  of  Recommendation  (EU) 
2020/912 should be deleted on 1 March 2022. Discontinuing Annex I should simplify 
the  Recommendation  (EU)  2020/912  and  reduce  the  administrative  burden  linked  to 
its implementation.  

(16) 

In  accordance  with  Articles  1  and  2  of  Protocol  No  22  on  the  Position  of  Denmark 
annexed  to  the  Treaty  on  European  Union  and  to  the  TFEU,  Denmark  is  not  taking 
part in  the adoption of this  Recommendation and is  not  bound by it or subject  to  its 
application.  Given  that  this  Recommendation  builds  upon  the  Schengen  acquis, 
Denmark  should,  in  accordance  with  Article  4  of  the  said  Protocol,  decide  within  a 
period of six months after the Council has decided on this Recommendation whether it 
will implement it. 

(17)  This  Recommendation  constitutes  a  development  of  the  provisions  of  the  Schengen 
acquis  in  which  Ireland  does  not  take  part,  in  accordance  with  Council  Decision 
2002/192/EC10; Ireland is therefore not taking part in its adoption and is not bound by 
it or subject to its application. 

(18)  As  regards  Iceland  and  Norway,  this  Recommendation  constitutes  a  development  of 
the provisions of the Schengen acquis within the meaning of the Agreement concluded 
by the Council of the European Union and the Republic of Iceland and the Kingdom 
of  Norway  concerning  the  latter’s  association  with  the  implementation,  application 

10 

Council Decision 2002/192/EC of 28 February 2002 concerning Ireland’s request to take part in some 
of the provisions of the Schengen acquis (OJ L 64, 7.3.2002, p. 20). 

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and  development  of  the  Schengen  acquis11  which  fall  within  the  area  referred  to  in 
Article 1, point A, of Council Decision 1999/437/EC12. 

(19)  As  regards  Switzerland,  this  Recommendation  constitutes  a  development  of  the 
provisions of the Schengen acquis within the meaning of the Agreement between the 
European Union, the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on the Swiss 
Confederation’s association with the implementation, application and development of 
the Schengen  acquis13 which fall within the area referred to in  Article 1, point A, of 
Decision  1999/437/EC  read  in  conjunction  with  Article  3  of  Council  Decision 
2008/146/EC14. 

(20)  As  regards  Liechtenstein,  this  Recommendation  constitutes  a  development  of 
provisions  of  the  Schengen  acquis  within  the  meaning  of  the  Protocol  between  the 
European  Union,  the  European  Community,  the  Swiss  Confederation  and  the 
Principality  of  Liechtenstein  on  the  accession  of  the  Principality  of  Liechtenstein  to 
the Agreement between the European Union, the European Community and the Swiss 
Confederation  on  the  Swiss  Confederation’s  association  with  the  implementation, 
application  and  development  of  the  Schengen  acquis15  which  fall  within  the  area 
referred  to  in  Article  1  point  A,  of  Decision  1999/437/EC  read  in  conjunction  with 
Article 3 of Decision 2011/350/EU16. 

(21)  The  legal  status  of  this  Recommendation  as  recalled  in  recitals  15  to  19  is  without 
prejudice to the need for all Member States, in the interest of the proper functioning of 
the Schengen area, to decide on the lifting of the restriction on non-essential travel into 
the Union in a coordinated manner, 

HAS ADOPTED THIS RECOMMENDATION: 

Recommendation (EU) 2020/912 is amended as follows: 

(1) 

(2) 

11 
12 

13 
14 

15 
16 

From 10 January 2022, in point 2, second paragraph, the figure “75” is replaced by 
“100”and the figure “300” is replaced by “600”; 

From 10 January 2022, in point 6a, first, second and third paragraphs are replaced by 
the following: 

“Without  prejudice  to  point  6  (a)  and  (b),  where  Member  States  accept  proof  of 
vaccination in order to waive travel restrictions to limit the spread of COVID-19, Member 

OJ L 176, 10.7.1999, p. 36. 
Council  Decision  1999/437/EC  of  17  May  1999  on  certain  arrangements  for  the  application  of  the 
Agreement  concluded  by  the  Council  of  the  European  Union  and  the  Republic  of  Iceland  and  the 
Kingdom  of  Norway  concerning  the  association  of  those  two  States  with  the  implementation, 
application and development of the Schengen acquis (OJ L 176, 10.7.1999). 
OJ L 53, 27.2.2008, p. 52. 
Council  Decision  2008/146/EC  of  28  January  2008  on  the  conclusion,  on  behalf  of  the  European 
Community, of the Agreement between the European Union, the European Community and the Swiss 
Confederation  on  the  Swiss  Confederation’s  association  with  the  implementation,  application  and 
development of the Schengen acquis (OJ L 53, 27.2.2008, p. 1). 
OJ L 160, 18.6.2011, p. 21. 
Council Decision 2011/350/EU of 7 March 2011 on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, 
of the Protocol between the European Union, the European Community, the Swiss Confederation and 
the Principality of Liechtenstein on the accession of the Principality of Liechtenstein to the Agreement 
between  the  European  Union,  the  European  Community  and  the  Swiss  Confederation  on  the  Swiss 
Confederation’s  association  with  the  implementation,  application  and  development  of  the  Schengen 
acquis,  relating  to  the  abolition  of  checks  at  internal  borders  and  movement  of  persons  (OJ  L  160, 
18.6.2011, p. 19). 

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States  should  in principle  lift the  temporary  restriction  on  non-essential  travel  to  the EU 
with regard to such travellers who have received the last recommended dose of one of the 
COVID-19  vaccines authorised in the EU pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 726/2004* at 
the latest 14 days before entering the EU+ area, provided that less than 9 months have 
passed since the administration of the dose indicated in the vaccination certificate for 
the  completion  of  the  primary  vaccination  series,  or  an  additional  dose  has  been 
received following the completion of the primary vaccination series. 

Member States should also lift the temporary restriction on non-essential travel to the 
EU  with  regard  to  such  travellers  who  have  received  the  last  recommended  dose  of 
one  of  the  COVID-19  vaccines  having  completed  the  WHO  Emergency  Use  Listing 
process  at  the  latest  14 days  before  entering  the  EU+  area,  provided  that  less  than  9 
months have passed since the administration of the dose indicated in the vaccination 
certificate for the completion of the primary vaccination series, or an additional dose 
has been received following the completion of the primary vaccination series. 

Member States should also lift the temporary restriction on non-essential travel to the 
EU  with  regard  to  such  travellers  who  have  recovered  from  COVID-19  within  180 
days prior to travelling to the EU. 

To  that  end,  travellers  wishing  to  undertake  non-essential  travel  to  a  Member  State 
should be in possession of either: 

a) a valid proof of COVID-19 vaccination issued on the basis of a COVID-19 vaccine 
authorised in the EU pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 726/2004 or, 

b) a valid proof of COVID-19 vaccination issued on the basis of COVID-19 vaccines 
that has completed the WHO Emergency Use Listing process but does not appear on 
the list of vaccines authorised in the EU pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 726/2004 or,  

c) a valid proof of recovery.  

For  travellers  falling  under  points  b)  and  c)  above,  the  Member  State  should  also 
require a valid proof of a negative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test 
taken at the earliest 72 hours before departure.  

In  addition  to  EU  Digital  COVID  certificates,  Member  States  should  accept  such 
proofs of COVID-19 vaccination or recovery if they correspond to certificates having 
been  recognised  as  equivalent  to  those  issued  in  accordance  with  Regulation 
(EU) 2021/953 of the European Parliament and of the Council** in an implementing 
act adopted by the Commission under Article 8 of that Regulation.  

Where no such act concerning certificates issued by a third country has been adopted, 
Member States could  accept, in  accordance with  national  law,  a proof of  testing and 
vaccination  issued  by  the  third  country  taking  into  account  the  need  to  be  able  to 
verify the authenticity, validity and integrity of the certificate and whether it contains 
all relevant data as provided for in Regulation (EU) 2021/953. 

Children from 6 years and below 18 years of age should be allowed to undertake non-
essential travel to a Member State if they are in possession of valid proof of a negative 
real-time  polymerase  chain  reaction  (RT-PCR)  test  taken  at  the  earliest  72  hours 
before departure.  In these cases, Member States  could require additional testing after 
arrival, as well as quarantine or self-isolation.”. 

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*  Regulation  (EC)  No  726/2004  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the  Council  of  31  March  2004 
laying  down  Community  procedures  for  the  authorisation  and  supervision  of  medicinal  products  for 
human and veterinary use and establishing a European Medicines Agency (OJ L136, 30.04.2004, p. 1). 

**  Regulation  (EU) 2021/953  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the  Council  of  14 June  2021  on  a 
framework  for  the  issuance,  verification  and  acceptance  of  interoperable  COVID-19  vaccination,  test 
and  recovery  certificates  (EU  Digital  COVID  Certificate)  to  facilitate  free  movement  during  the 
COVID-19 pandemic (OJ L 211, 15.6.2021, p. 1). 

(3) 

From 1 March 2022:  

(a) point 1 is replaced by the following:  

“1.  Temporary  restrictions  on  non-essential  travel  into  the  EU  should  be  lifted  with 
regard  to  the  residents  of  third  countries  in  accordance  with  the  rules  set  out  in  this 
Recommendation.”. 

(b) points 2 to 5, point 9 and Annex I are deleted. 

Done at Brussels, 

For the Council 
The President 

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