EU member states agree on a common framework for travel restrictions. The new system is more relaxed than the Norwegian system.
“Norway has had a positive impact on this initiative. This could create predictability for countries and avoid unfounded obstacles,” Health Minister Bent Høie (H) said in a speech to the Norwegian parliament (Storting) on Tuesday.
“At the same time, it is up to national authorities to assess the risk picture and decide on measures based on national conditions,” Høie said.
Gradual restrictions
As expected, EU ministers adopted the new framework on Tuesday, after an agreement was reached regarding the proposal last week.
The main proposal is a common framework in which countries are classified as “green,” “yellow,” or “red” depending on the level of infection in the last 14 days.
It is recommended that no entry restrictions are placed on “green” regions, but countries may have entry restrictions in other areas.
In the case of regions that are “orange,” “red,” or “grey,” EU Member States may require quarantine or testing upon entry.
The decision also provides a common form for tracking travelers for countries that have the requirement in place.
More liberal limits
This is similar to the “traffic light” system that Norway introduced earlier this autumn.
However, the EU Council of Ministers’ recommendations is set with more liberal limits on the “yellow” and “red” levels than the limits that apply in Norway.
The new recommendations are intended to clear up a confusing and chaotic patchwork of national travel guidelines, and the EU Council’s starting point is that they should also apply to EEA countries other than Norway.
However, the recommendations are not legally binding.
© NTB Scanpix / #Norway Today
Yes so what is that suppossed to do to us