(30 March 2020) – Today, the Commission has published practical guidance to ensure the free movement of critical workers and on the implementation of the temporary restriction on non-essential travel to the EU.

The first set of guidelines identify workers that exercise critical occupations, in particular to fight the Coronavirus pandemic, for which continued free movement in the EU is deemed essential.

These include health professionals, child and elderly care workers, scientists, medical device technicians, firefighters, police officers, transport workers, persons working in the food sector and seasonal workers in agriculture

The guidance on the temporary restriction on non-essential travel to the EU, which will assist border guards and visa authorities, provides advice on the implementation of the temporary restriction at the border, on facilitating transit arrangements for the repatriation of EU citizens, and on visa issues.