Source::AP
With the rapidly changing situations and circumstances in European countries and protests all around the capitals protesting new restrictions, the European Union is seeking to smoothen out the process of travel between its member countries to avoid chaos, confusion and disruptions while travelling.
The 27 ministers at the EU agreed on Tuesday for a recommendation to avoid disruption and confusion for travellers when planning trips from European countries. With the average vaccination rate of the EU being relatively high with about 70% and the QR app being widely accepted and known by the public, the EU has reported that it is feasible to go through such an effort.
Under the new approach, the criterion for deciding who can travel or not is more influenced by an individual's vaccination or infection status rather than the country where they came from. In the legal travel certificate, vaccination is a key element and would be valid for 9 months since the last vaccine or recovery shot. A negative PCR test under three days or an antigen test under one day is also a component as well as the recovery certificate less than six months old. Still, travellers will be discouraged from visiting high-risk countries.
While the plan and the approach seem pragmatic and feasible, the agreement done by the ministers on Tuesday is just a recommendation by the EU to member states. It is still yet to see whether such a significant joint action among all the 27 nations can be upheld and enforced as health policy falls firmly under the hands of the national government in the area.
