European Union updates travel list removing 6 countries from the list

6 countries have been removed from the list of countries where European Union (EU) members may not apply travel restrictions due to the outbreak of coronavirus (Covid-19) wheras one country has been added to the list.

Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Brunei, Japan and Serbia have been removed from the list of countries exempt from travel restrictions, according to an EU Council statement. Uruguay was the only country added to the list.

The countries included in the list after the latest update are Australia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Jordan, New Zealand, Qatar, Moldova, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Ukraine, Uruguay. In addition, the borders could be open to China if EU countries grant travel permits to their citizens.

EU’s list is a recommendation for member states

The EU’s list is advisory to member states and is not binding. According to Sputnik, tourist travel to the EU from the countries on the list can be allowed, while some measures, such as testing and quarantine, can be applied to passengers. EU travel restrictions remain on countries not included in the list.

In March last year, the EU agreed to impose restrictions on non-mandatory travel to the 27 member states, as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland which are part of the Schengen area, to curb the spread of the outbreak.