The European Union has revealed plans to once again allow international travellers into the bloc.
Under the proposal revealed on Monday, non-essential travel into the EU would be permitted for fully vaccinated people as well as unvaccinated people from countries with low infection rates.
Currently, only essential travel is permitted from all but a handful of countries.
Travellers would need to have had a full course of a vaccine authorised by the European Medicines Agency – including vaccines by Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, and Johnson & Johnson – though this could be extended to extended vaccines authorised by the World Health Organization to include Russian, Chinese, and other vaccines.
However, the new system would also include a so-called „emergency brake”, allowing member states to quickly shut down travel from countries that see a spike in infections of the emergence of a new variant of the coronavirus.
The proposals are set to be discussed today and will have to be approved by member states before the changes can take effect.
The plans come just in time for the summer travel season, with hopes a return to international tourism could help revive Europe’s struggling travel industry.
In Poland, shopping malls, DIY stores, galleries, and museums are all reopening today as the country continues its gradual reopening of the economy.
It’s the second step in a five-stage plan to almost fully reopen business and schools by the end of the month.
Also from today, primary school students in years 1, 2, & 3 are returning to full in-school learning.
Restrictions on religious gatherings have also been relaxed, with 1 person per 15sqm now permitted.
Under plans revealed last week by the Prime Minister, by the end of May, restaurants, gyms, cinemas, theatres, and sport are all set to reopen, with all school students back to on-site learning.
The next changes are set to take effect on Saturday, with the reopening of hotels.
The Presidents of Poland, Ukraine, and the three Baltic states of Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania met in Warsaw Monday to mark the 230th anniversary of the May 3rd Constitution.
In a joint statement, the five presidents reiterated the historical importance of the May 3rd Constitution, proclaimed „European values” of „freedom, sovereignty, territorial integrity, democracy, rule of law, equality, & solidarity”, and committed to continue dialogue in the region.
Tickets are now on sale for the Europa League Final, set to be held in Gdansk later this month.
Tickets range from €40 (182zł) for a seat behind the goals up to €130 (591zł) for a spot in the central stands.
In line with sanitary rules, 9500 seats are up for grabs – 25% of the stadium’s capacity. Fans travelling from abroad will have to comply with quarantine rules as normal.
Fans can apply for tickets until Friday, with tickets being allocated at random and not on a first-come-first-served basis so if you haven’t applied yet there’s still plenty of time.
Weather
Mostly cloudy today with a chance for some showers later this afternoon.
Highs today of 12°C, 54°F.
Tomorrow looking bright and dry with sunshine and cloudy spells.
