Brussels: Airport industry body ACI EUROPE has welcomed the European Commission’s proposals on intra-EU travel, published 25 November, which will see travel criteria based on individual health status rather than on country of departure. Europe’s airports have long advocated for such a risk-based approach.  Teamed with the proposal to move away from the colour-coded map system which underpins the current guidance, this represents a significant step forward. 

ACI EUROPE welcomes the support given by the EC for the use of the common Digital Passenger Locator Form, and for the use of a PLF exchange platform to enhance cross-border contact tracing capabilities for all transport modes.  We also support the EC’s clarification on the validity of EU Digital Covid Certificates. It is of the outmost importance that all EU Member States agree on a standard duration for the vaccination certificate, to avoid fragmentation of national legislation and discrepancies between Member States.

The European Commission’s proposals also include updates to the guidelines on extra-EU travel. ACI EUROPE fully supports these proposals, which would see travellers allowed entry into the EU solely depending on their vaccination or recovery status, rather than the epidemiological situation in the country from which they are travelling.

The new proposals coincide with fresh ECDC guidance which urges the roll-out of vaccination booster shots across Europe and the reinforcement of local non-pharmaceutical interventions such as mask-wearing and social distancing. The ECDC has specifically not advocated the tightening of travel restrictions as many EU countries experience a surge in case numbers. This underpins the reality that once domestic transmission is present, blanket travel restrictions add no health benefit – whilst causing economic damage. The airport industry calls upon European Governments to heed the ECDC’s guidance, which allows for the continuation of freedom of movement whilst prioritising public health.