UK Travellers Could Be Barred From EU Entry On 1 January

UK travellers could be barred from entering the EU from 1
January as travel rules associated with being part of the EU expire
and pandemic restrictions block entry.

According to BBC, unrestricted travel to countries within the
bloc will no longer automatically apply to UK residents from
then.

This means entry into the EU would then be based on essential
travel only.

Currently, only countries with low coronavirus infection rates
qualify for non-essential travel.

There are only eight countries with low Covid rates that are on
the approved list for free travel and there are currently no plans
to add the UK to that list.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab told the BBC’s Today programme
that Covid restrictions would depend on what the EU and its member
states decide.

He added that “restrictions on travel, inevitably, is going to
be something that’s kept under review”.

With talks about a trade deal between the UK and the EU still
continuing, there is a possibility this could change.

Alternatively, individual member state countries could decide to
override the EU rules and create a corridor with the UK.

At the moment, the UK is considered to have the same status by
the EU as countries such as Norway and Switzerland, which are
members of the European Free Trade Association, travel expert Simon
Calder told the BBC.

Mr Calder said that many regions dependent on tourism, such as
the Canary Islands, may well make an exemption for British
tourists, “but there’s no obligation to at the moment”.

Paul Charles, chief executive of travel consultancy the PC
Agency, agreed, saying: “Cool heads need to prevail at this
politically difficult time as travel and tourism is such a key
contributor to economic growth in Europe.

“I’m sure that individual countries who need UK tourism will be
sensible and override any EU-bloc decision which prevents entry. It
is so important now for countries to work together globally to
create a consistent approach.”

A spokesperson for airline EasyJet said: “There is no EU blanket
law which requires individual states to limit entry from those
arriving from outside the EU and so just as they do today, we
expect individual European countries to continue to apply their own
rules.”

British Airways declined to comment.

UK travellers could be barred from entering the EU from 1
January as travel rules associated with being part of the EU expire
and pandemic restrictions block entry.

According to BBC, unrestricted travel to countries within the
bloc will no longer automatically apply to UK residents from
then.

This means entry into the EU would then be based on essential
travel only.

Currently, only countries with low coronavirus infection rates
qualify for non-essential travel.

There are only eight countries with low Covid rates that are on
the approved list for free travel and there are currently no plans
to add the UK to that list.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab told the BBC’s Today programme
that Covid restrictions would depend on what the EU and its member
states decide.

He added that “restrictions on travel, inevitably, is going to
be something that’s kept under review”.

With talks about a trade deal between the UK and the EU still
continuing, there is a possibility this could change.

Alternatively, individual member state countries could decide to
override the EU rules and create a corridor with the UK.

At the moment, the UK is considered to have the same status by
the EU as countries such as Norway and Switzerland, which are
members of the European Free Trade Association, travel expert Simon
Calder told the BBC.

Mr Calder said that many regions dependent on tourism, such as
the Canary Islands, may well make an exemption for British
tourists, “but there’s no obligation to at the moment”.

Paul Charles, chief executive of travel consultancy the PC
Agency, agreed, saying: “Cool heads need to prevail at this
politically difficult time as travel and tourism is such a key
contributor to economic growth in Europe.

“I’m sure that individual countries who need UK tourism will be
sensible and override any EU-bloc decision which prevents entry. It
is so important now for countries to work together globally to
create a consistent approach.”

A spokesperson for airline EasyJet said: “There is no EU blanket
law which requires individual states to limit entry from those
arriving from outside the EU and so just as they do today, we
expect individual European countries to continue to apply their own
rules.”

British Airways declined to comment.