A passenger arrives at Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas airport in Madrid, Spain, from a flight from Chongqing, China.
Photo:
Alberto Ortega/Zuma Press
European Union member states agreed to controls on people entering the bloc from China, with member states encouraged to require a pre-travel negative Covid test for those flying to Europe, although the decision will be left to national authorities.
After lengthy discussions at a crisis response meeting in Brussels on Wednesday, at which some member states voiced caution about demanding pre-travel tests, the bloc issued a statement saying EU countries are “strongly encouraged to” demand a Covid-19 test result taken within 48 hours of departure.
Decisions on border controls are the prerogative of national authorities, but Brussels was pushing for all countries to agree a uniform set of measures.
Chinese officials have opposed foreign governments imposing travel controls in recent days and have threatened retaliation against foreign countries imposing restrictions. Beijing itself continues to require everyone coming to China to have a negative Covid test within two days of departure.
The EU move comes as China prepares this weekend to lift most remaining quarantine and Covid-testing restrictions for inbound travelers to the country. That move has sparked a surge in demand for airplane tickets in and out of the country.
The Chinese decision follows a sharp reversal by Beijing on its three-year-old zero-Covid policy.
Several EU member states including France, Spain and Italy…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at WSJ.com: World News…