The Commission adopts new Guidance on travellers exempted from the temporary restriction on non-essential travel to the EU

Today, the Commission has issued new guidance to support Member States in identifying persons who should be exempted from the restriction on non-essential travel into the EU, in the context of the Council Recommendation 2020/912 on the temporary restriction on non-essential travel into the EU.

The guidance is part of the Commission’s additional set of actions related to the COVID-19 response launched today and aimed at better understand the virus' spread and the effectiveness of the response, ramp up well targeted testing, bolster contact tracing, improve preparations for vaccination campaigns, and maintain access to essential supplies such as vaccination equipment, while keeping all goods moving in the single market and facilitating safe travel.

The guidance provides indications on:

• The interpretation of the term “family member” as regards exempted family members of Union citizens or of long-term residents in the EU.
• The scope of the categories of travellers with an essential function or need as listed in Annex II of the Recommendation, and on possible evidence that third country nationals might need to provide to prove that they fall under one of the categories.

Background

Council Recommendation 2020/912 indicates the categories of persons that should be exempted from the restriction on non-essential travel into the EU. At the Integrated Political Crisis Response (IPCR) Working Level Roundtable on 14 September 2020, the Commission was invited to present draft interpretative guidelines on these categories. In response to this call, the Commission has prepared this guidance, taking into account input and feedback from the Member States. The guidance intends to help Member States ensure coherent implementation of the Council Recommendation.

More information

Guidance on travellers exempted from the temporary restriction on non-essential travel to the EU

MEMO on the Guidance on persons exempted from the temporary restriction on non-essential travel to the EU

Council Recommendation 2020/912 on the temporary restriction on non-essential travel into the EU

Schengen Borders Code

Free Movement Directive

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