EU calls to scrap quarantine and testing for Europeans holding vaccine passports

31 May 2021, 12:16 | Updated: 31 May 2021, 12:48

The EU Digital Covid Certificate is at the heart of plans to reopen travel within Europe without the need for quarantine or tests.
The EU Digital Covid Certificate is at the heart of plans to reopen travel within Europe without the need for quarantine or tests. Picture: PA

By Joe Cook

The European Commission has recommended that EU citizens travelling within Europe should not be required to quarantine or take a Covid test if they have a certificate showing they have been vaccinated or recently had the virus.

The new proposal paves the way for the unlocking of travel on the continent as the sluggish vaccination programme begins to pick up speed.

At the heart of the plans is the EU's Digital Covid Certificate, a digital passport that will be introduced from 1 July and contain information about an individuals Covid-19 vaccination history and recent PCR or lateral flow test results.

Anyone who has had two doses of the vaccine, has recovered from Covid in the last 180 days or has a negative test within the last three days will be exempt from all quarantine and travel testing arrangements, under the proposals.

Read more: UK travellers will need 'compelling reasons' to enter France

Explained: UK travel rules: Can I holiday abroad and which countries are allowing Brits to enter?

With the UK now out of the EU, the current plans will not apply to UK travellers, who are likely to still face testing and quarantine rules this summer.

However, EU Commissioner Didier Reynders reportedly told a briefing that the EU will talk with third countries, including the UK, about mutual recognition of vaccine certificates.

Commenting on the announcement, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen tweeted: "Europeans should enjoy a safe and relaxing summer.

"As vaccination progresses, we propose to gradually ease travel measures in a coordinated way with our common tool: the EU Digital COVID Certificate.

"It will bring clarity and predictability as we resume free travel in the EU."

However, the proposals do include provisions for EU countries to re-introduce "emergency brake" travel restrictions for areas where cases are rising rapidly or there is high prevalence of variants of concern.

Read more: UK weather: Bank Holiday Monday set to be hottest day of year so far

Indie SAGE member's warning around Covid travel fraud

While the EU Commission pushes for the continent to open up, in a blow to UK holidaymakers from Monday travellers entering France from Britain will have to provide "compelling reasons" to enter the country.

Travel to France from the UK will only be permitted for EU nationals, French residents, or those travelling for essential reasons, amidst concern over the spread of the Indian variant.

Those who are allowed to make the journey must take a pre-departure Covid test and quarantine for seven days on arrival.

France's move follows Germany starting to require people arriving from the UK to go into quarantine for 14 days, again in response to the spread of the Indian variant.

More to follow.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Abdirahman Ibrahim has been convicted of murder after driving into the back of Liam Jones

Killer driver mows down e-bike rider to 'teach him lesson' for doing wheelies

The Vatican says Pope Francis is being treated for 'bilateral pneumonia'

New scans show Pope Francis has pneumonia in both lungs but Vatican says he remains ‘in good spirits’

Meghan

Meghan Markle could face 'legal action' from Spanish town as her new luxury brand logo faces resemblance to coat of arms

The father of murdered schoolgirl Sara Sharif is reportedly being protected by a 'Muslim gang'

Sara Sharif's father protected by 'Muslim gang' in jail after being attacked with jagged tuna lid

Zhenhao Zou is accused of raping three women in London and 7 in China, whilst they were unconscious

PhD student 'discussed rape role-play' with alleged victim, trial hears

Exclusive
Senior Tories including Suella Braverman and Michael Gove have criticised the judge's comments

Senior Tories blast 'out of touch' judge for 'ludicrous attack' on Starmer’s migrant remarks

Shiri Bibas and her two young sons, Ariel and Kfir, died in an airstrike, Hamas said

Bodies of youngest Israeli hostage Kfir Bibas and his brother and mother to be handed over as family ‘in turmoil’

Lisa Smith, 43, was with a female friend when she was killed outside the Three Horseshoes pub in Knockholt, Kent

Man suspected of fatally shooting wife outside pub on Valentine's Day rang friend and said 'she's dead'

Carry On legend Julian Holloway dies aged 80

Carry On legend Julian Holloway dies aged 80 after 'brief illness' as tributes pour in

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned 'any appearance by armed forces under some other flag' in Ukraine would be 'completely unacceptable', in a dig at a peace plan floated by Keir Starmer.

Keir Starmer’s Ukraine peacekeeping plan ‘completely unacceptable’, Russia tells US in Saudi Arabia talks

Rita Lambourne, 58, was “fatally wounded” at her home in Bayencourt South, Bexhill

Man charged with axe murder of woman in own home

Lydia Mugambe is accused of taking 'advantage of her status'

UN judge ‘trafficked woman to UK to be her slave'

Anonymous posters have appeared in Hampstead Heath, a park in north London, calling for gay men to stop using the park for sex.

'Take back Hampstead Heath', dog walkers urged as posters appear calling for men to stop using park for sex

Gavin Nicholls was tackled to the ground by a plain-clothed officer outside the Co-op in Barnet

Moment serial shoplifter is tackled off e-scooter by police as he flees store in north London

The plane, which was carrying 80 people, slid down onto the icy runway at Toronto Pearson International Airport before bursting into flames

Horrifying video shows moment Delta plane crashes on tarmac and bursts into flames at Toronto airport

Healey's comments came following Russia-US Peake talks in Saudi Arabia.

UK facing 'new era of threat' from Russia, Defence Secretary says as he unveils ‘biggest military shake up in 50 years’