June 30 (SeeNews) - The European Council has decided to gradually lift the coronavirus-related temporary restrictions on non-essential travel of citizens of Serbia and Montenegro within the European Union (EU), it said on Tuesday.
Based on the criteria and conditions set out in the recommendation, as from July 1 EU member states should start lifting the travel restrictions at the external borders for residents of 14 countries, including Serbia and Montenegro, the EU Council said in a statement.
The criteria to determine the third countries for which the current travel restriction should be lifted cover, in particular, the epidemiological situation and containment measures, including physical distancing, as well as economic and social considerations, the EU Council said.
The travel restrictions continue to apply for citizens of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and Moldova, except for people from those countries who are EU citizens and for their family members, for long-term EU residents and for their family members and for travellers with an essential function or need.
This list of third countries should be reviewed every two weeks and may be updated by the EU Council, after close consultations with the EU Commission and the relevant EU agencies and services following an overall assessment.
The EU Commission introduced on March 16 a temporary restriction of all non-essential travel from third countries into the EU for one month. The travel restriction was extended for a further month respectively on April 8 and May 8.