Belgium in Brief: Will EU Go To The UK?

Belgium in Brief: Will EU Go To The UK?
Credit: canva

Would you look at that? The UK is letting us back in again.

This new measure - which arrived with a bang or a whimper depending on who you spoke to - means that any fully-vaxed EU resident can get into the UK with minimal(ish) fuss.

For the Brits abroad, this is extra special news because they can return home - many for the first time in a long time - but here in Belgium the other side of things is still looking complicated.

As it stands, the UK's NHS Covid certificate is in a bit of a no man's land.

“Belgium has not yet confirmed that it will accept the UK solutions for demonstrating your COVID vaccination status,” the UK government travel advice explains.

“You should follow alternative advice for entry. Your NHS appointment card from vaccination centres is not designed to be used as proof of vaccination and should not be used to demonstrate your vaccine status.”

Not yet confirmed is, of course, wonderfully vague.

Is that someone hinting they know something? An expectation? Or simply nothing at all?

No idea, but we're trying to find out.

As with every step in this process, a change of rules has brought more questions you never considered, while leaving us a little in the dark over the questions we already had.

Got a question about this (or anything else) you wish there was an answer to?

Let @johnstonjules know.

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Belgium in Brief is a free daily roundup of the top stories to get you through your lunch break conversations. To receive it straight to your inbox every day, sign up below:

1. Popular holiday destinations turn red again on European travel map

The map of Europe has changed again for travellers from Belgium, as a number of regions in France, Greece and Italy turned red this weekend, in the latest update of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). Read more.

2. Why Belgium is playing it safe

Credit: Canva

At least 1,100 people were infected with Covid-19 after a festival in the Netherlands earlier this month, which shows exactly why Belgium made the right choice in holding off on big events. Here's more from virologist and interfederal Covid-19 spokesperson Steven Van Gucht.

3. What are the rules for travelling to Belgium from the UK?

With the news that the UK will be allowing fully vaccinated travellers to enter from the EU and the US as of Monday 2 August, here’s a quick recap of the rules for those of us looking to return to Belgium now a trip to the UK is on the cards. Here's what we know.

4. Pfizer and Moderna increase price of coronavirus vaccines in Europe

Pharmaceutical companies Pfizer and Moderna, both large manufacturers of coronavirus vaccines, have raised the price of their shots as part of a new contract with the European Union. Read More.

5. Tokyo Olympics: Belgium’s Nina Derwael wins Olympic gold

Nina Derwael (21) took home Belgium’s first gold at the 2020 Olympic Games when she became gymnastics champion on uneven bars. Read More.

6. Better weather in August? Don’t get your hopes up

As we leave behind the first half of the summer and enter August, many people who have chosen to stay home in Belgium this year will be hoping for better weather. Read more.

7. Horses to Heizel: Brussels’ trams through the ages

Trams in Brussels have come a long way from the first horse-drawn services that started carrying passengers from the Porte de Namur to the Bois de la Cambre in 1869. Have a look.


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