EU countries urged to lift travel bans on UK as coronavirus cases soar

France will ease a travel ban on UK arrivals, after thousands of travellers and freight trucks were left stranded.

A police officer directs traffic at the entrance to the closed ferry terminal in Dover, England.

A police officer directs traffic at the entrance to the closed ferry terminal in Dover, England. Source: AP

The European Commission recommended that EU member states lift the blanket bans some have imposed on arrivals from Britain to allow essential journeys and cargo transport to resume.

France, the country with the busiest train and ferry links to the UK, announced that it would ease restrictions to allow entry to EU nationals and residents as well as Britons, on condition passengers can present negative virus tests.
A commuter at Kings Cross train station in London, Britain.
A commuter at Kings Cross train station in London, Britain. Source: EPA
Other countries were expected to follow suit, but Germany and Ireland had already announced that their controls would continue, and a diplomat said EU ambassadors had simply "taken note" of the recommendation. 

“There was broad support among EU ambassadors to maintain or re-establish cargo flows to and from the UK," the diplomat said, after the member states met to discuss the proposal.

"EU member states have taken note of the commission recommendations," he said.   

"Member states stand ready to reassess the measures taken in order to limit the further spread of the new SARS-CoV-2 variant when more scientific evidence sheds further light on the nature of the new virus strain."

This falls short of the European Commission's advice, released ahead of the meeting.
"Flight and train bans should be discontinued given the need to ensure essential travel and avoid supply chain disruptions," a statement from the EU executive said.

EU member states are responsible for their own borders, but representatives were to meet later Tuesday to study the Commission's recommendations.

Several EU member states have imposed flight, train and ferry bans on UK arrivals since Britain announced the discovery of a new strain of coronavirus.

The ban on arrivals in France has led to long tailbacks of freight trucks in southern England, and has disrupted passenger travel in the run-up to Christmas.

Member states want to get their own nationals home from Britain and resume freight shipments, but they still want to discourage "non-essential" travel.
Trucks are parked on the M20 motorway as part of Operation Stack, whilst the Port of Dover remains closed.
Trucks are parked on the M20 motorway as part of Operation Stack, whilst the Port of Dover remains closed. Source: AP
The Commission recommended, therefore, that coronavirus tests be carried out on passengers within 72 hours of travel - although transport staff should be exempted. 

"Transit of passengers, especially for essential travel, should be facilitated without quarantine," it said. 

"A test can be required, but authorities need to inform about such requirement in advance or offer testing during the journey."

British Home Secretary Priti Patel told Sky News British and French authorities are in talks on setting up testing centres in ports.

Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders said: "Member states should take coordinated action to discourage non-essential travel between the UK and the EU. 

"At the same time,  blanket travel bans should not prevent thousands of EU and UK citizens from returning to their homes."
France decided late Sunday to suspend all arrivals from the United Kingdom for 48 hours over the new strain that has resulted in a third lockdown for London and much of southeast England.

Other EU countries have instituted flight and train bans, and Germany has already extended its ban until 6 January.


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Source: AFP, SBS


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