EU travel boost for holiday Britons
EUROCRATS gave British tourists a huge holiday boost yesterday when they revealed plans to welcome them to the Continent this summer.
They said UK travellers were “certainly” part of the plans when EU countries reopen for foreign travel.
The bloc is working on a scheme to recognise a British vaccines passport as pressure from tourist-starved Mediterranean states grows.
Sources say Spain will open rather than face another summer without the 18 million Britons who visit every year.
Belgian EU commissioner Didier Reynders suggested the bloc was ready to admit UK tourists whether or not they have been vaccinated. Non-essential travel to Europe is currently banned under pandemic restrictions enforced by the EC.
Most who arrive face stringent testing and quarantine measures.
Brussels now hopes its EU-wide vaccines passport plans will eliminate checks on those travelling between member states.
The scheme should also be opened up to the UK when it is due to be to launched by the end of June.
The EC initially planned to use its so-called “Digital Green Pass”, recognising travellers with a vaccination, antibodies or a negative Covid test for travel between member states.
But pressure from nations including Spain, Portugal and Greece has forced Eurocrats to ensure UK travellers will be allowed to enter the bloc.
Mr Reynders said: “We are working now with theWorld Health Organisation and the International Civil Aviation Organisation to see how it’s possible to organise an international solution.”