The Reuters news agency reported on Tuesday that the European Union has removed Serbia and Montenegro from the list of countries whose nationals can travel to Union member states.

It quoted EU officials who said that the “EU decided to drop Serbia and Montenegro from its safe list of countries from which non-essential travel is allowed”.

The officials said that EU diplomats approved a proposal from Germany, now holding the rotating EU presidency, to exclude non-EU states Serbia and Montenegro because of spreading infections.

The list is only a recommendation; not all of the 27 EU member countries are applying its provisions, Reuters said, adding that 13 countries now remain on the list : Algeria, Australia, Canada, China, Georgia, Japan, Morocco, New Zealand, Rwanda, South Korea, Thailand, Tunisia and Uruguay.