The Council of the EU on Tuesday adopted recommendations that include a common map which shows, in different colours, the epidemiological situation in all EU regions, which is expected to significantly facilitate movement within the EU in the current time of the coronavirus pandemic.

Information on travel in the EU will be available on the “Re-open EU” platform, which will also refer visitors to the map to be regularly updated by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.

Regions on the map will be marked in green, orange and red, depending on the number of new infections per 100,000 inhabitants in the last 14 days, the rate of positive cases in the total number of persons tested, and the rate of testing per 100,000 population.

The grey colour will denote areas for which information is insufficient.

The green colour will denote areas where the 14-day cumulative rate of reported cases of the coronavirus infection is below 25 per 100,000 population and the rate of positive tests is below 4%.

The orange colour will be used to denote areas where the 14-day cumulative rate of reported cases is less than 50 per 100,000 population but the rate of positive tests exceeds 4% or where the 14-day cumulative rate of reported cases is between 25 and 150 per 100,000 population but the rate of positive cases is below 4%.

The red colour will be used to denote areas where the 14-day cumulative rate of reported cases of the infection exceeds 50 per 100,000 inhabitants and the rate of positive cases is above 4% or where the 14-day cumulative rate of reported cases exceeds 150 per 100,000 inhabitants.

Based on the map, member-states will decide if they want to introduce restrictions such as quarantine or testing, for passengers coming from other areas.

The member-states are agreed that there will be no restrictions for passengers coming from green areas, and that when passengers come from orange or red regions, they can expect restrictions.

It is recommended that the member-states should differentiate between orange and red regions.

The map is expected to provide passengers with information on the rate of risk at their destination. Combined with information on the Re-open EU platform, this will provide them with information on what measures they can expect if they travel to another EU region.

The agreement reached should bring more clarity and predictability regarding restrictions on movement due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The European Commission has welcomed the agreement between the member-states.

They are expected to publish information on all restrictions on free movement and all additional elements and measures referring to passengers coming from high-risk areas. The information is expected to be published 24 hours before the entry into force of new measures.

The member-states decide on their own which measures to apply, and under the agreement reached today, the member-states’ governments are expected to give clear and timely information on restrictions in force and on what citizens should do.

The member-states have also reached agreement on the mutual recognition of COVID-19 tests, and they will continue to cooperate to ensure better coordination in determining conditions for testing and quarantine.