The Council of the European Union on Thursday recommended lifting the ban on non-essential travel to Israel due to the improving situation with COVID-19 in the country
BRUSSELS (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 06th May, 2021) The Council of the European Union on Thursday recommended lifting the ban on non-essential travel to Israel due to the improving situation with COVID-19 in the country.
The decision comes as Israel continues making progress in its vaccination drive, as the country has already inoculated over 60% of population.
"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 for which travel restrictions should be lifted to add Israel. As stipulated in the Council recommendation, this list will continue to be reviewed every two weeks and, as the case may be, updated," the Council said in a statement.
On June 30, the Council introduced its list of countries with which travel restrictions should be gradually removed. It initially had 15 countries, but that number was later trimmed after spikes in cases in some countries.
With the addition of Israel, the bloc's list now has eight countries. Other entries include Australia, New Zealand, Rwanda, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand and China, which last is subject to confirmation of reciprocity.
The council's guidelines, however, are not mandatory and not all EU countries are following them.
