Georgia remains on EU Council's updated list of countries for which travel restrictions should be lifted

The Council of the European Union has updated the list of countries to which the travel restrictions should be gradually lifted and the list still includes Georgia.

Based on the criteria and conditions set out in the recommendation, from 16 July member states should gradually lift travel restrictions at external borders for residents of the following third countries: Algeria, Australia, Canada, Georgia, Japan, Morocco, New Zealand, Rwanda, South Korea, Thailand, Tunisia, Uruguay, China, subject to confirmation of reciprocity. Residents of Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and the Vatican should be considered as EU residents for the purpose of this recommendation", reads the press-release published by the council.

The criteria to determine third countries for which current travel restrictions should be lifted cover in particular the epidemiological situation and containment measures, including social distancing, as well as economic and social considerations. 

Regarding the epidemiological situation, third countries listed should meet the following criteria:

• Number of new COVID-19 cases over the last 14 days and per 100,000 inhabitants close to or below the EU average (as it stood on June 15, 2020)
• Stable or decreasing trend of new cases over this period in comparison to the previous 14 days
• Overall response to COVID-19 taking into account available information, including on aspects such as testing, surveillance, contact tracing, containment, treatment and reporting
• Reciprocity should also be taken into account regularly and on a case-by-case basis

For countries where travel restrictions continue to apply, the following categories of people should be exempted from the restrictions:

• EU citizens and their family members
• Long-term EU residents and their family members
• Travellers with an essential function or need, as listed in the recommendation
• Schengen associated countries (Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway, Switzerland) also take part in this recommendation

The council announced that this list of third countries should continue to be reviewed every two weeks and may be further updated.