The European Union has listed Rwanda among the countries on which Covid-19 restrictions for non-essential travel into the EU territory should be lifted.

According to a statement from the Council of the European Union on June 18, the development follows a review under the recommendation on the gradual lifting of the temporary restrictions on non-essential travel into the EU.

Among the criteria, the EU considers for lifting travel restrictions on third countries (countries that are not members of the EU and those whose citizens do not enjoy the EU right to free movement) include their epidemiological situation and overall response to Covid-19, as well as the reliability of the available information and data sources.

The other countries from which the restrictions have been lifted are Albania, Australia, Israel, Japan, Lebanon, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Serbia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, United States of America, and China, subject to confirmation of reciprocity.

"This list will continue to be reviewed every two weeks and, as the case may be, updated,” read a statement from the Council of the European Union.

It adds that travel restrictions should also be gradually lifted for the special administrative regions of China: Hong Kong and Macao.

"The condition of reciprocity for these special administrative regions has been lifted,” it read.