The EU has recommended that member states, including popular holiday destinations such as Spain, France, Greece, Italy and Croatia, don’t impose any further travel restrictions on the grounds of public health.

If the COVID situation worsens in a country outside the EU, including in the UK, they’ve been told they should reintroduce ‘appropriate requirements’ for travellers in a coordinated manner.

This makes it less likely that we’ll see a repeat of the travel disruption during the height of the pandemic, when EU countries introduced different restrictions on British holidaymakers.

It also makes it less likely that countries in the EU will suddenly impose a ban on UK arrivals, as France did this time last year, even if the COVID situation worsens.

The EU has told member states that if a variant of concern emerges in a country outside the bloc, they might establish an ‘urgent, common and temporary travel restriction or travel requirements’ – but only for 21 days. However, member states can decide to shorten or extend this for an additional period, if necessary.

In October, Spain became last EU country to drop its COVID entry requirements.