Several EU member states have imposed flight, train and ferry bans on UK arrivals since Britain announced the discovery of the new strain. AFP
The European Commission (EC) recommended on December 22 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.
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.
He said: “EU member states have taken note of the commission recommendations.
“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 EC’s advice, released ahead of the meeting. A statement from the EU executive said: “Flight and train bans should be discontinued given the need to ensure essential travel and avoid supply chain disruptions.”
EU member states are responsible for their own borders, but representatives were to meet later on December 22 to study the EC’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.
The EC 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,” the statement said.
British Secretary of State for the Home Department Priti Patel told Sky News that British and French authorities are in talks on setting up testing centres in ports.
