COVID-19: EU leaves Ukraine on 'green list'

29.10.2021 16:00

Ukrinform

The European Union has left Ukraine on the list of countries for which travel restrictions should be lifted, according to a statement published on the website of the European Council on Friday, October 29.

"Following a review under the recommendation on the gradual lifting of the temporary restrictions on non-essential travel into the EU, the Council updated the list of countries, special administrative regions and other entities and territorial authorities for which travel restrictions should be lifted. In particular, Argentina, Colombia, Namibia and Peru were added to the list," the statement reads.

Based on the criteria and conditions set out in the recommendation, as from 28 October 2021 member states should gradually lift the travel restrictions at the external borders for residents of the following third countries: Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Jordan, Kuwait, Namibia, New Zealand, Peru, Qatar, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, and China (subject to confirmation of reciprocity).

Travel restrictions should also be gradually lifted for the special administrative regions of China Hong Kong and Macao. Under the category of entities and territorial authorities that are not recognized as states by at least one member state, travel restrictions for Taiwan should also be gradually lifted.

The criteria to determine the third countries for which the current travel restriction should be lifted were updated on May 20, 2021. They cover the epidemiological situation and overall response to COVID-19, as well as the reliability of the available information and data sources. Reciprocity should also be taken into account on a case-by-case basis.

Schengen-associated countries (Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway, Switzerland) also take part in this recommendation.

On June 30, 2020, the Council adopted a recommendation on the gradual lifting of the temporary restrictions on non-essential travel into the EU. This recommendation included an initial list of countries for which member states should start lifting the travel restrictions at the external borders. The list is reviewed every two weeks and, as the case may be, updated.