CELEX: 52021DC0039
Language: en
Date: 2021-01-25
Title: Proposal for a COUNCIL RECOMMENDATION on the temporary restriction on non-essential travel into the EU and the possible lifting of such restriction, amending Council Recommendation 2020/912

EUROPEAN COMMISSION
            Brussels, 25.1.2021
            COM(2021) 39 final
            2021/0023(NLE)
            Proposal for a
            COUNCIL RECOMMENDATION 
            on the temporary restriction on non-essential travel into the EU and the possible lifting of such restriction, amending Council Recommendation 2020/912
            
               
         
         
            
               EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
            
            
               1.CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL
            
            
               •Reasons for and objectives of the proposal
            
            
               Reasons for and objectives of the proposal
            
            
               On 10 March 2020, the Heads of State or Government of the EU emphasised the need for a joint European approach with regard to the COVID-19 pandemic. On 16 March 2020, the Commission adopted a Communication
                  1
                recommending a temporary restriction of non-essential travel from third countries into the EU+ area
                  2
               . On 17 March 2020, EU Leaders agreed on coordinated action at the external borders, based on the recommendation from the Commission. In the follow-up to that agreement, all EU Member States (with the exception of Ireland) and Schengen Associated States (hereafter ‘Member States’) took national decisions to implement the travel restriction
                  3
               . Since then, this restriction has been prolonged several times
                  4
               .
            
            
               On 11 June 2020, the Commission adopted a Communication
                  5
                that recommended prolonging the travel restriction until 30 June 2020 and set out an approach for the gradual lifting of the restriction on non-essential travel into the EU as of 1 July 2020. On 26 June, the Commission adopted a proposal for a Council Recommendation on the restriction on non-essential travel into the EU
                  6
               . 
            
            
               The Council adopted this Recommendation on 30 June 2020
                  7
               . It has since then been amended five times, on 16 July, 30 July, 7 August, 22 October and 17 December 2020, to update the list, in Annex I, of third countries for which the restriction on non-essential travel into the EU can be lifted. 8 countries have been taken off the initial list of 15 countries and one country, Singapore, has been added, bringing the total number of countries from which non-essential travel to the EU currently should be possible to currently 8 countries (and 2 special administrative regions of a country).
            
            
               At the same time, the epidemiological situation in the European Union worsened in the autumn and has become even more volatile with the appearance of variants of COVID-19. The Commission responded to this development in a first step by adopting Commission Recommendation of 22 December 2020 on a coordinated approach to travel and transport in response to the SARS-COV-2 variant observed in the United Kingdom.
                  8
               
            
            
               As noted in the Commission’s Communication of 19 January 2021 on a united front to beat COVID-19
                  9
               , thanks to pioneering science and remarkable political and industrial efforts, what is normally done in ten years was achieved in ten months and with speedy, mass vaccinations being rolled out, millions of Europeans will now be vaccinated against COVID-19. 
            
            
               However, while infections rise and until vaccinations are done on a scale required to turn the tide of the pandemic, continued vigilance, containment measures and public health controls will be required. The EU and Member States must act now to contain the risk of a potentially harsher third wave of infections, characterised by the more transmissible new variants of the virus, which are already present across Europe. 
            
            
               These new variants of the virus
                  10
                are a real and serious cause for concern. While currently there is no evidence that these cause more severe disease, the variants appear to be somewhere between 50–70 % more transmissible
                  11
               . This means that the virus can spread more easily and more quickly, increasing the burden on overstretched healthcare systems. This is one likely cause for the substantial rises in cases in most Member States over recent weeks.
            
            
               As a result, travel will continue to pose a particular challenge. All non-essential travel, especially to and from high risk areas, should be strongly discouraged until the epidemiological situation has considerably improved.
            
            
            
               •Consistency with existing policy provisions in the policy area
            
            
               
                  This recommendation serves to implement the existing provisions in the policy area, namely carrying out checks on persons and efficient monitoring of 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. 
            
            
               The criteria in the Recommendation refer to the average EU 14-day notification rate of 15 June 2020 whereas the Council Recommendation on a coordinated approach to the restriction of free movement in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, adopted on 13 October 2020, uses additional criteria, namely the testing rate and the test positivity rate
                  12
               . 
            
            
               The criteria used in the Council Recommendation of 13 October 2020 reflect the most recent scientific advice, and the Council Recommendation on non-essential travel to the EU should be reviewed in the same light. The differences between the right of free movement of EU citizens and long-term EU residents on the one hand, and travel from third countries on the other, do not allow for the thresholds laid down in the Council Recommendation of 13 October to be applied automatically. However, the criteria and procedures set out in the Council Recommendation of 13 October can provide useful inspiration also in the present context.
            
         
         
            
               
            
            
               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) 
            
            
               
                  Article 292 TFEU enables the Council to adopt recommendations. According to the first sentence of this provision, the Council shall adopt recommendations, and according to the second sentence of this provision, the Council shall act on a proposal from the Commission in all cases where the Treaties provide that it shall adopt acts on a proposal from the Commission. 
               
               
                  This applies in the current situation, as a consistent approach at the external border requires a common solution. Article 77(2)(b) TFEU provides for measures on checks on persons crossing the external borders, while Article 77(2)(e) TFEU provides for the absence of any controls on persons, whatever their nationality, when crossing internal borders. Measures on the basis of Article 77(2) TFEU are to be adopted by the European Parliament and the Council, acting in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure. Pursuant to Article 289(1) TFEU, the ordinary legislative procedure takes place on a proposal from the Commission. 
               
            
            
               •Proportionality
            
            
               
                  The present proposal takes account of the evolving epidemiological situation and all available relevant evidence. The authorities of the Member States and the Schengen Associated Countries remain responsible for implementing the proposed Council 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.
               
            
            
               3.RESULTS OF EX-POST EVALUATIONS, STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATIONS AND IMPACT ASSESSMENTS
            
            
               •Ex-post evaluations/fitness checks of existing legislation
            
            
               
                  N/A.
               
            
            
               •Stakeholder consultations and impact assessment
            
            
               
                  This proposal takes into account discussions with Member States since the implementation of the first temporary restrictions. No impact assessment was undertaken although the proposal takes into account the evolving epidemiological situation and all available relevant evidence. 
               
            
            
               •4.BUDGETARY IMPLICATIONS
            
            
               
                  None.
               
               
            
            
               2021/0023 (NLE)
            
         
         
            
               Proposal for a
            
            
               COUNCIL RECOMMENDATION
            
            
               on the temporary restriction on non-essential travel into the EU and the possible lifting of such restriction, amending Council Recommendation (EU) 2020/912
            
            
               THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
            
            
               Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Articles 77(2)(b) and (e) and 292, first and second sentence thereof,
            
            
               Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,
            
            
               Whereas:
            
            
               (1)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 restriction
                  13
               .
            
            
               (2)The criteria set out in Council Recommendation (EU) 2020/912 refer to the average EU 14-day notification rate of 15 June 2020. The Council Recommendation on a coordinated approach to the restriction of free movement in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, adopted on 13 October 2020, uses additional criteria that reflect the most recent scientific advice
                  14
               .
            
            
               
               New variants of the SARS COV-2 virus are a serious cause for concern. The variants appear to be somewhere between 50–70 % more transmissible
                  15
                increasing the burden on healthcare systems.
            
            
               The criteria and thresholds laid down in Regulation (EU) 2020/912 should therefore be updated.
            
            
               (3)On 22 December 2020, the Commission responded to the appearance of one such variant with the adoption of a Recommendation on a coordinated approach to travel and transport in response to the SARS-COV-2 variant observed in the United Kingdom.
                  16
               
            
            
               (4)On 19 January 2021, the Commission in its Communication on a united front to beat COVID-19 called for urgent action to contain the risk of a potentially harsher third wave of infections.
            
            
               (5)In the same Communication, the Commission also stressed that all non-essential travel, especially to and from high risk areas, should be strongly discouraged until the epidemiological situation has considerably improved.
            
            
               (6)On 21 January 2021, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control issued its latest risk assessment on the spread of the new SAR-CoV-2 variants of concern in the EU/EEA
                  17
               , recommending the adoption of stricter measures and of guidance on the avoidance of non-essential travel, including for the purpose of slowing down the importation and spread of the new SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern. In addition to recommendations against non-essential travel, and restrictions on travel for those infected, travel measures such as testing and quarantine of travellers should be maintained, in particular for travellers from areas with a higher incidence of the new variants. If sequencing is still insufficient to exclude the possibility of a higher incidence of the new variants, as per European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control guidance on genomic sequencing, proportionate travel measures should also be considered from areas where there is a continued high level of community transmission.
            
            
               (7)In the oral conclusions drawn following the video conference of the members of the European Council on 21 January 2021, the President of the European Council noted that measures restricting non-essential travel into and within the EU may be needed to contain the spread of the virus and called on the Council to review its recommendations on intra-EU travel and non-essential travels into the EU in light of the risks posed by the new virus variants.
            
            
               (8)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, in accordance with Article 4 of the said Protocol, is to decide within a period of six months after the Council has decided on this Recommendation whether it will implement it.
            
            
               (9)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/EC
                  18
               ; Ireland is therefore not taking part in its adoption and is not bound by it or subject to its application.
            
            
               (10)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 and development of the Schengen acquis which fall within the area referred to in Article 1, point A, of Council Decision 1999/437/EC
                  19
               .
            
            
               (11)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 acquis which fall within the area referred to in Article 1, point A, of Decision 1999/437/EC
                  20
                read in conjunction with Article 3 of Council Decision 2008/146/EC
                  21
               .
            
         
         
            
               (12)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 acquis which fall within the area referred to in Article 1 point A, of Decision 1999/437/EC
                  22
                read in conjunction with Article 3 of Decision 2011/350/EU
                  23
               , 
            
            
               HAS ADOPTED THIS RECOMMENDATION:
            
            
               Council Recommendation 2020/912 on the temporary restriction on non-essential travel into the EU and the possible lifting of such restriction
                  24
                is amended as follows:
            
            
               1.The second paragraph of point 1 is replaced by the following:
            
            
               “To determine the third countries for which the current restriction on non-essential travel into the EU should be lifted, the epidemiological situation in the respective third countries and further criteria as set out in this Recommendation should be taken into account.”  
            
            
               2.Point 2 is replaced by the following:
            
            
               “As regards the epidemiological situation, the following criteria should apply:
            
            
               –the ‘14-day cumulative COVID-19 case notification rate’, that is, the total number of newly notified COVID-19 cases per 100 000 population in the previous 14 days; 
            
            
               –the ‘testing rate’, that is, the number of tests for COVID-19 infection per 100 000 population carried in the previous seven days; 
            
            
               –the ‘test positivity rate’, that is, the percentage of positive tests among all tests for COVID-19 infection carried out in the previous seven days;
            
            
               –the nature of the virus present in a country, in particular whether variants of concern of the virus have been detected. Variants of concern are variants identified as such by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) or by the authorities of the Member States in a coordinated way.
            
            
               To be included in Annex I, third countries should meet the following thresholds: a 14-day cumulative COVID-19 case notification rate of not more than 25, a testing rate above 300, and a test positivity rate of not more than 4%.”
            
            
               3.Point 4 is amended as follows:
            
            
               a)The second paragraph is replaced by the following:
            
            
               “Travel restrictions may be totally or partially lifted or reintroduced for a specific third country already listed in Annex I, according to changes in some of the conditions set out above and, as a consequence, in the assessment of the epidemiological situation. Rapid decision-making should be applied in case the situation in a third country worsens quickly, and in particular, where a high incidence of variants of concern of the virus are detected.”
            
            
               b)The following new paragraph is added:
            
            
               “In order to lift the temporary restriction on non-essential travel into the EU with regard to the third countries listed in Annex I, Members States should, on a case-by-case basis, take into account reciprocity granted to the EU+ area.”
            
            
               4.The following new point is inserted after point 4:
            
            
               “Member States should strongly discourage non-essential travel from the EU+ area to countries other than those listed in Annex I.”
            
            
               5.The following points are renumbered accordingly.
            
         
         
            
               6.New point 6 is amended as follows:
            
            
               (a) The second paragraph is deleted.
            
            
               (b) The last paragraph is replaced by the following:
            
            
               “The list of specific categories of travellers with an essential function or need referred to in Annex II may be reviewed by the Council, based on a proposal from the Commission, depending on social and economic considerations as well as the overall assessment of the evolution of the epidemiological situation, based on the methodology, criteria and information referred to above.”
            
            
               7.  New point 7 is replaced by the following:
            
            
               “Member States should require persons travelling for any essential or non-essential reason, function, or need, with the exception of transport and frontier workers, to have tested negative for COVID-19 on the basis of a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test taken at the earliest 72 hours before departure, and to submit the appropriate proof of such a test result in the form stipulated by the authorities.
            
            
               Persons referred to in point 6 (a) and (b) should have the possibility to carry out the test after arrival. This is without prejudice to any obligation to undergo any further measure, including quarantine, after arrival.
            
            
               In addition, Member States may require self-isolation, quarantine and contact tracing for a period of up to 14 days, as well as further COVID-19 testing as needed during the same period, provided that they impose the same requirements on their own nationals when travelling from the same third country of origin. For those travellers arriving from a third country where a variant of concern of the virus has been detected, Member States should impose such requirements and in particular, quarantine upon arrival and additional testing upon or after arrival. 
            
            
               As regards travel undertaken in connection with an essential function or need as set out in Annex II:
            
            
               ¾Member States may decide, in a coordinated way, to waive some or all of the above measures in those cases where such measure would impede the very purpose of the travel;
            
            
               ¾For transport and frontier workers, Member States should not require more than a negative Rapid Antigen Tests on arrival to enter into the EU+ area;
            
            
               ¾Air crews should be exempted from any testing if their stay in a third country was less than 12 hours, unless they arrive from a third country where a variant of concern has been detected, in which case they should undergo proportionate testing. 
            
            
               This is without prejudice to general public health requirements that may be imposed by the Member States such as physical distancing and the requirement to wear a mask.”
            
            
               8.  The following new point is inserted after new point 7:
            
            
               “Member States should require persons entering the EU to submit a Passenger Locator Form (PLF) in accordance with applicable data protection requirements. A common European Passenger Locator Form should be developed for possible use by Member States. Wherever possible, a digital option for passenger locator information should be used in order to simplify processing and expediting contact tracing, while ensuring equal access to all third-country nationals.”
            
            
               9. The following points are renumbered accordingly.
            
            
            
               Done at Brussels,
            
            
               
                     For the Council
               
               
                     The President
               
            
         
         
            
                  
                     (1)
                  
                        COM(2020) 115, 16 March 2020.
               
               
                  
                     (2)
                  
                        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 and the United Kingdom if they decide to align. 
               
               
                  
                     (3)
                  
                        The United Kingdom has also been encouraged to implement this temporary travel restriction, but decided against doing so. As UK nationals are, until the end of the transition period, still to be treated in the same way as EU citizens, they are exempt from the travel restriction. 
               
               
                  
                     (4)
                  
                        COM(2020) 148, 8 April 2020, and COM(2020)222, 8 May 2020.
               
               
                  
                     (5)
                  
                        COM(2020) 399, 11 June 2020.
               
               
                  
                     (6)
                   
                        COM(2020) 287, 26 June 2020.
               
               
                  
                     (7)
                   
                        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.
               
               
                  
                     (8)
                   
                        C(2020) 9607 final.
               
               
                  
                     (9)
                   
                        COM(2021) 35 final.
               
               
                  
                     (10)
                   
                        Variants “B117” and “501Y.V2”.
               
               
                  
                     (11)
                   
                        ECDC Risk Assessment: Risk related to spread of new SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern in the EU/EEA.
               
               
                  
                     (12)
                   
                        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).
               
               
                  
                     (13)
                   
                        Council Recommendation (EU) 2020/1475 of 13 October 2020 on a coordinated approach to the restriction of free movement in response to the COVID-19 pandemic (OJ L 337, 14.10.2020, p. 3).
               
               
                  
                     (14)
                   
                        ECDC Risk Assessment: Risk related to spread of new SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern in the EU/EEA, available at: 
                  https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/publications-data/covid-19-risk-assessment-spread-new-sars-cov-2-variants-eueea
                   
               
               
                  
                     (15)
                   
                        C(2020) 9607 final.
               
               
                  
                     (16)
                   
                        European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Risk related to spread of new SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern in the EU/EEA, first update–21January 2021. ECDC: Stockholm; 2021. Available at: 
                  https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/sites/default/files/documents/COVID-19-risk-related-to-spread-of-new-SARS-CoV-2-variants-EU-EEA-first-update.pdf
                   
               
               
                  
                     (17)
                  
                        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).
               
               
                  
                     (18)
                  
                        OJ L 176, 10.7.1999, p. 36.
               
               
                  
                     (19)
                  
                        OJ L 53, 27.2.2008, p. 52.
               
               
                  
                     (20)
                  
                        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).
               
               
                  
                     (21)
                  
                        OJ L 160, 18.6.2011, p. 21.
               
               
                  
                     (22)
                  
                        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).
               
               
                  
                     (23)
                   
                        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).