The European Union reopens its borders to vaccinated non-EU citizens

The 27 members of the European Union agreed today to allow access to the territory of non-EU foreigners who have completed their vaccination schedule against Covid-19 with any of the vaccines approved by the EMA, the block’s drug control organization.

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However, the member states would have the power to authorize the access of travelers who have vaccines approved by the WHO in their individual territory, broadening the spectrum of potential passengers. So far, the EMA approved vaccines are Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson and Sinopharm.

We welcome the @EUCouncil agreement on updating the approach to travel from outside the EU.

The Council now recommends that EU countries ease some of the current restrictions, in particular for those vaccinated with an authorised vaccine.@ChristianWigand ↓ pic.twitter.com/hCVKxe2Pw2

— European Commission (@EU_Commission) May 19, 2021

It has not been defined so far what happens with the transit between nations that have different vaccine approval criteria, but it is expected that the unified criterion will be imposed, at least until the issuance of a health passport that allows free movement in the European territory.

Travelers must have both applications (in case that the vaccine received is not a single dose) at least 14 days before the start of their trip. After the announcement made by the group of ambassadors of the block, the agreement is expected to be ratified tomorrow, at a meeting of trade ministers. After it, the publication in the Official Gazette of the Union will be subtracted for it to enter into force.

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The announcement is key in face of the boreal summer season, which wishes an economic recovery for the most important tourist destinations of the block. Another measure taken is the modification of the incidence rate from which the EU includes certain countries in the lists of safe countries. The threshold of cases per 100,000 inhabitants will move from the current 25 to 75.

In compensation, the EU also agreed to speed up the processes to apply «emergency brakes» to the entry if the country of origin suffers a worrying spike in cases or the appearance of new variants is observed.

News in development.