EU Commission proposes reopening external borders

THE EU’s executive branch has proposed the easing of restrictions on travel to the 27-member bloc as vaccination campaigns gather speed.

Travel to the EU is currently extremely limited, except for a handful of countries with low infection rates. But with the summer season looming, the European Commission hopes the new recommendations will help dramatically expand that list.

“The Commission proposes to allow entry to the EU for non-essential reasons not only for all persons coming from countries with a good epidemiological situation, but also all people who have received the last recommended dose of an EU-authorised vaccine,” the EU’s executive arm said.

Officials believe the vaccination campaigns will soon be “a game changer” in the fight against the virus, especially within the bloc and border-free Schengen zone.

Its proposal will be discussed with member states’ ambassadors this week, with the hope it could come into force by June.