On 13 October 2020, the Council adopted Council Recommendation (EU) 2020/1475 on a coordinated approach to the restriction of free movement in response to the COVID-19 pandemic (1). The Recommendation established a coordinated approach on the following key points: the application of common criteria and thresholds when deciding whether to introduce restrictions to free movement, a mapping of the risk of COVID-19 transmission based on an agreed colour code, and a coordinated approach as to the measures, if any, which may appropriately be applied to persons moving between areas, depending on the level of risk of transmission in those areas.
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Using the criteria and thresholds established in that Recommendation, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control has been publishing, once a week, a map of Member States, broken down by regions, in order to support Member States’ decision-making (2).
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As provided for in recital 15 of that Recommendation, the Commission, supported by European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, should, in view of the evolving epidemiological situation, regularly assess the criteria, data needs and thresholds outlined in this Recommendation, including whether other criteria should be considered or the thresholds adapted, and transmit its findings to the Council for its consideration, together with a proposal to amend the Recommendation.
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Two factors impact the current development of the pandemic. On the one hand, since the beginning of 2021, mass vaccination is being rolled out and millions of Europeans have been vaccinated against COVID-19 already. However, as noted in the Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the European Council and the Council on a united front to beat COVID-19 (3), while infections rise and until vaccinations are administered on a scale required to turn the tide of the pandemic, continued vigilance, containment measures and public health controls will be required. In particular, the EU and Member States must act to contain the risk of a potentially harsher next wave of infections, characterised by the more transmissible new variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which are already present across Europe.
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The recent emergence of new variants of the virus is a serious cause for concern. While currently there is no evidence that these cause more severe disease, the variants appear to be somewhere between 50–70 % more transmissible (4). This means that the virus can spread more easily and more quickly, increasing the burden on overstretched healthcare systems. This is one likely cause for the substantial rises in cases in most Member States over recent weeks.
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In its latest risk assessment on spread of the new SAR-CoV-2 variants of concern in the EU/EEA (5), the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control states that the risk associated with the introduction and community spread of variants of concern has been increased to high/very high.
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As one of the options to respond to this risk, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control recommends that in order to slow down the importation and spread of the new SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern, non-essential travel should be avoided. In addition to recommendations against non-essential travel, and restrictions on travel for those infected, travel measures such as the testing and quarantining of travellers should be maintained, in particular for travellers from areas with a higher incidence of the new variants. If sequencing is still insufficient to exclude the possibility of a higher incidence of the new variants, as per European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control guidance on genomic sequencing, proportionate travel measures should also be considered from areas where there is a continued high level of community transmission.
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In view of the recommendations from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, Recommendation (EU) 2020/1475 should therefore be amended accordingly.
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In order to take into account the very high level of community transmission, possibly linked to the increased transmissibility of the new variants of concern, a new colour, dark red, should be added to the map published weekly by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. This colour should indicate areas where the virus is circulating at very high levels, including because of more infectious variants of concern.
(10)
Member States should also take into account the prevalence of new SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern, while taking into account the level of genome sequencing carried out by other Member States. The Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the European Council and the Council on a united front to beat COVID-19 highlights the need for Member States to urgently increase genome sequencing to 5-10% of positive test results, if needed by using capacity of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control to identify the progression of the variants or detect new ones.
(11)
The high level of community transmission in most Member States means that travel will continue to pose a particular challenge. All non-essential travel, especially to and from high risk areas, should be strongly discouraged until the epidemiological situation has considerably improved, particularly in the light of the outbreak of new variants. Given that the risk of infection or transmission is similar for domestic and cross-border travel, Member States should ensure coherence between the measures applied to both types of non-essential travel.
(12)
In the oral conclusions drawn following the video conference of the members of the European Council on 21 January 2021 (6), the President of the European Council noted that borders need to stay open to ensure the functioning of the single market, including the flow of essential goods and services. No indiscriminate travel bans should be imposed. However, measures restricting non-essential travel in the EU may be needed to contain the spread of the virus. While upholding its principles, the Council may need to review its recommendations on intra-EU travel and non-essential travels into the EU in light of the risks posed by the new virus variants.
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A coordinated approach aims to prevent the reintroduction of internal border controls. Border closures or blanket travel bans, as well as suspension of flights, land transport and water crossings, are not justified, as more targeted measures, such as mandatory quarantine or testing, have sufficient impact and cause less disruption. The system of ‘Green Lanes’ (7) should keep transport flows moving, in particular to ensure the free movement of goods and services, thus avoiding supply chain disruptions.
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Any restrictions to the free movement of persons must continue to be applied in compliance with the general principles of Union law, in particular proportionality and non-discrimination, including on the basis of nationality. Any measures taken should thus not extend beyond what is strictly necessary to safeguard public health. Clear, timely and comprehensive information of the public remains crucial in order to ensure predictability, legal certainty and compliance by citizens. Restrictions should be adequately enforced and any sanctions laid down should be effective and proportionate.
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On 11 January 2021, the Health Security Committee agreed recommendations for a common EU approach regarding isolation measures for COVID-19 patients and quarantine measures for contacts and travellers. The recommendations of the Health Security Committee (8) regarding quarantine measures for travellers should be applied by Member States when imposing travel-related quarantine. In particular, where quarantine requirements are imposed for travel from a high-risk area, shortening the required quarantine duration should be considered should a negative test be obtained after 5 to 7 days upon entry, unless the traveller develops symptoms.
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Given the increase in COVID-19 testing capacity, Recommendation (EU) 2020/1475 should be amended to give Member States the option to require travellers coming from areas not classified as ‘green’ to do a test prior to departure.
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In view of the high level of community transmission in areas to be classified as ‘dark red’, persons travelling from such areas for non-essential purposes should be required to undergo a test prior to departure as well as quarantine, in line with the recommendations of the Health Security Committee, after arrival at their destination. Where travellers are not quarantining at their place of residence, appropriate physical conditions for quarantine premises as well as the protection and provision of care for children in quarantine conditions should be ensured and be in line with the WHO Guidelines (9).
(18)
Where persons returning to their Member State of residence have been unable to undergo a test prior to departure, they should be allowed to undergo a test after arrival, in order to avoid that they are prevented from returning to their homes.
(19)
Given the high level of infections in ‘dark red’ areas, essential travellers should also be required to undergo a test for COVID-19 infection and quarantine, provided that this does not have a disproportionate impact on the exercise of their essential function or need, for example because the traveller’s exposure to the general population at destination is very limited. Where a Member State, taking into account the specific epidemiological situation, nevertheless requires tests for transport workers and service providers, this should not lead to transport disruptions (10). To maintain supply chains, quarantine requirements should not apply to transport staff while exercising this essential function.
(20)
Restrictions linked to cross-border travel are particularly disruptive for persons who cross them daily or frequently to go to work or school, visit close relatives, seek medical care, or to take care of loved ones. Such persons should not be required to undergo quarantine when crossing borders for this essential purpose, given the significant disruption this causes to people’s lives and livelihoods as well as the economy as a whole. As long as the epidemiological situation is comparable on both sides of the border, requiring such persons to undergo frequent tests merely because they cross a border appears unnecessary. Close coordination among Member States and cross-border regions will remain particularly important.
(21)
In view of the evolving epidemiological situation, the Commission, supported by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, should continue to regularly assess the criteria, data needs and thresholds outlined in this Recommendation, including whether other criteria should be considered or the thresholds adapted, and transmit its findings to the Council for its consideration, together with a proposal to amend the Recommendation, where necessary,
