European Tourism

EU issues call to young Europeans to travel — 06 April 2022, 22:55 CET

Young people living in Erasmus+ programme countries can apply for one of 35,000 free travel passes to explore Europe, as the EU Commission opened Thursday its first application round of 2022.

Consumers win with new, revised EU roaming rules — 04 April 2022, 23:19 CET

Today Member States approved an update to the rules on roaming, extending the existing rules to 2032 and introducing improvements that will further benefit consumers. The new rules will now enter into force as of July of this year.

EU extends mobile 'roam like at home' scheme — 05 April 2022, 22:38 CET

People will continue to be able to make calls, text and browse the web while in other EU countries at no extra cost following the EU's extension Monday of the 'roam like at home' scheme until 2032.

EU eases requirements on non-essential travel from third countries — 24 February 2022, 17:36 CET

The EU further facilitated travel into the EU Tuesday, updating a recommendation on temporary restriction of non-essential travel into the EU, taking into account increased vaccination and booster uptake.

New rules on EU Covid certificates apply from 1 February — 02 February 2022, 17:39 CET

As of 1 February, new Europe-wide rules started to apply on a standard acceptance period of 270 days for EU Digital COVID vaccination certificates used for travel within the EU.

Vaccination, not regions, to be focus of new EU travel regime — 25 January 2022, 23:18 CET

EU ministers adopted a revised recommendation Tuesday on measures affecting free movement, which would be based on the individual situation of persons and no longer on the region of origin.

EU Covid certificates' validity period set at 9 months — 23 December 2021, 00:45 CET

The European Commission adopted rules Tuesday establishing a binding acceptance period of 9 months for the EU Digital COVID vaccination certificates for the purposes of intra-EU travel.

New European tourism strategy needed: auditors — 15 December 2021, 18:05 CET

The EU is the world's most visited region: around 37% all international tourist arrivals had the EU as their destination in 2019. But EU support for tourism needs a fresh strategic orientation, say the EU's auditors.

EU's digital COVID certificate sets global standard — 20 October 2021, 22:40 CET

More than 591 million EU Digital COVID Certificates - seen as a crucial part of Europe's response to the pandemic - have been generated, the EU said Monday in a report covering its implementation across the EU.

MEPs want improved roaming experience and cheaper calls to other EU countries for consumers — 14 October 2021, 22:35 CET

MEPs want improved roaming experience and cheaper calls to other EU countries for consumers.

EU air passenger rights fall by wayside during pandemic: report — 01 July 2021, 18:29 CET

The rights of air passengers have not been safeguarded in the EU during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a report published on Tuesday by the European Court of Auditors (ECA).

EU digital COVID certificate goes live — 06 July 2021, 23:45 CET

The EU Digital COVID Certificate Regulation entered into application Thursday, allowing EU citizens and residents to have their Digital COVID Certificates issued and verified across the European Union.

EU Parliament gives go-ahead to Covid certificate — 14 June 2021, 19:17 CET

EU states are set to accept the Digital COVID Certificate - proving vaccination, negative test result or recovery from a COVID infection - from 1 July, following Wednesday's green light from MEPs.

Stringent standards met at most of Europe's bathing sites — 02 June 2021, 23:59 CET

Anybody managing to get to Europe's beaches this summer will welcome the news Tuesday that almost 83 per cent of Europe's bathing water sites met the EU's 'excellent' water quality standards.

EU agrees provisional deal on digital Covid certificate — 25 May 2021, 21:32 CET

EU institutions reached a provisional deal Friday for a European digital Covid certificate to facilitate free movement as EU member states start to lift Covid restrictions to free movement across Europe.

EU eases criteria for restrictions on non-essential travel — 20 May 2021, 18:31 CET

Responding to ongoing vaccination campaigns, the EU announced Thursday the introduction of certain waivers for vaccinated travellers and an easing of criteria for restrictions for third countries.

EU upgrades rights for rail passengers — 05 May 2021, 00:32 CET

Under the new revised rules on rail passengers' rights adopted by MEPs on Thursday, train passengers will be better protected when there are delays and cancellations or when they face discrimination.

EU Digital COVID Certificate — 01 July 2021, 17:54 CET

The EU Digital COVID Certificate (formerly called Digital Green Certificate) will facilitate safe free movement during the COVID-19 pandemic within the EU. It will serve as proof that a person was vaccinated against COVID-19, received a negative test result or recovered from COVID-19. The certificate can be used across all EU Member States as well as in Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. Contacts are also ongoing to enable its use with Switzerland. The Commission is working to make sure that the certificates can be compatible with systems in other countries outside the EU.

Air passenger protection over Covid crisis under EU scrutiny — 04 March 2021, 20:55 CET

EU auditors launched an audit Wednesday to assess the effectiveness of Commission actions to safeguard the rights of passengers travelling by plane or booking flights during the coronavirus crisis.

MEPs call for new EU strategy on sustainable tourism — 01 March 2021, 21:11 CET

EU criteria for safe and clean tourism, including a common vaccination certificate, should form part of a new EU strategy on sustainable tourism, a Euro-Parliament committee urged Thursday.

Brussels moves to prolong free roaming in Europe — 25 February 2021, 23:45 CET

Europe's citizens should enjoy roaming without additional charges when travelling in the EU, following the European Commission's proposal Wednesday for a new Roaming Regulation.

New COVID-19 slot relief to help EU airlines — 29 January 2021, 00:53 CET

The EU announced Thursday it is preparing new temporary rules to help air carriers cope with the drastic decline in air traffic caused by the Coronavirus crisis and avoid operating empty flights.

EU set to tighten up visa regime on external borders — 11 December 2020, 00:15 CET

The EU Parliament and Council reached a provisional agreement Tuesday to make Europe's external borders more secure, approving a proposal to revise and upgrade the EU's Visa Information System.

Auditors assess EU support for European tourism — 05 November 2020, 17:28 CET

Auditors are to analyse the effectiveness of EU funding for European tourism, whether it provided suitable support prior to the pandemic, and EU efforts to limit the negative impact of the COVID-19 crisis.

Coordination of measures restricting free movement in the EU related to the coronavirus pandemic — 13 October 2020, 17:21 CET

The EU Council agreed on 13 October on EU-wide coordination of measures restricting free movement related to the coronavirus pandemic.