EU Leaders Urged to Require PCR Tests for Travel Into Bloc
EU Leaders Urged to Require PCR Tests for Travel Into Bloc
(Bloomberg) -- European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is recommending that all travelers coming into the European Union be required to take PCR tests, according to two people familiar with the matter.
Von der Leyen briefed EU leaders on the proposal during a summit in Brussels on Thursday, calling for a test before departure and another after arrival, but it would be up to member states to implement specific rules.
The EU has been trying to maintain its ability to coordinate travel rules even as member states hastily implement a variety of restrictions to combat the fast-spreading omicron variant. Many EU states already require PCR tests for certain categories of travelers.
France on Thursday said it will ban tourists and almost all business travelers from the U.K., while requiring PCR tests and self-isolation periods for those who are allowed to travel.
Other states, like Italy and Greece, have implemented PCR test requirements that apply to all travelers, including those from inside the EU.
The cascade of steps is raising concerns that the EU’s digital Covid certificate, which has allowed hassle-free travel in Europe, is breaking down amid the omicron variant’s spread. Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel told reporters Thursday in Brussels that a return to varying national restrictions will make it harder to convince people to get vaccinated.
“If you make no difference between vaccinated, not vaccinated people because they need a PCR test, I think it is a wrong idea,” he said. “It’s not a position I will defend. It’s a national decision, but for me it’s a common problem and we need common solutions.”
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