Non-essential EU travel to stay restricted - draft EU leaders conclusions

Non-essential travel in the European Union will have to remain restricted for the time being because the epidemiological situation remains serious and new coronavirus variants pose additional challenges, EU leaders will agree on Thursday.

Draft conclusions of the leaders video-conference, seen by Reuters, said that travel restrictions should be introduced proportionally, in a non-discriminatory way and taking into account specific cross-border situations of local communities.

They will also agree to continue work on a common EU vaccination certificate which would allow individuals more freedom of travel and help resurrect tourism, which is key for southern EU countries, that has been destroyed by the pandemic.