The European Commission has encouraged EU member states to lift restrictions on travel to and from the UK to allow essential travel to restart but said non-essential travel should be discouraged.
Its recommendation came as France and the UK continued to discuss options to lift a ban on arrivals that continues to cause chaos at ports.
The commission said member states should allow people to travel to their country of residence as long as they take a Covid-19 test or self-isolate. Until the end of the Brexit transition period, free movement rules apply to the UK, meaning EU members should in theory not refuse entry.
Recommendations will be put to member states later on Tuesday, although individual countries can set their own rules regardless of a decision.
A statement from the commission said: “While it is important to take swift temporary precautionary action to limit the further spread of the new strain of the virus and all non-essential travel to and from the UK should be discouraged, essential travel and transit of passengers should be facilitated.
“Flight and train bans should be discontinued given the need to ensure essential travel and avoid supply chain disruptions.”
Commissioner for justice Didier Reynders added: “Given the current uncertainties and in light of the precautionary principle, Member States should take coordinated action to discourage non-essential travel between the UK and the EU.
“At the same time, blanket travel bans should not prevent thousands of EU and UK citizens from returning to their homes.
“While precautions are needed to contain the spread of the new coronavirus variant, with today’s recommendation, we therefore ensure that the restrictions are coordinated and provide for the necessary exemptions for citizens and residents returning home and other essential travellers.”
Ylva Johansson, commissioner for home affairs, said: “Since March, the Commission has developed solid recommendations on internal and external border control for member states to follow.
“This track record allows us to address the evolving situation and the new challenges that the pandemic poses. To be effective, our actions must be coordinated and today we are facilitating swift action to address the new coronavirus variant while ensuring that essential journeys can still take place.”
Tim Alderslade, chief executive of Airlines UK, said: “We note the Commission’s guidance but clearly this now needs to be enacted by EU member states, who have so far put in place their own rules.
“It remains to be seen what action they will take but our position remains that testing rather than flight bans is the only way to facilitate travel and get the economy and aviation moving again.”