U.S. likely to be joined by Russia, India, Brazil on EU travel ban roster
Spain’s foreign minister said that the list could contain 15 countries that are not EU members and whose citizens would be allowed to visit from 1 July. EU diplomats confirmed that the list would be made public on Tuesday.
EU envoys in Brussels worked over the weekend to narrow down the exact criteria for countries to be included, mostly centered on their ability to manage the spread of the disease. Importantly, the countries are also expected to drop any travel restrictions they have imposed on European citizens.
Spanish Foreign Minister Arancha González Laya said the EU is considering whether to accept travelers from China if Beijing lifts restrictions on European citizens. Morocco is another possibility, although its government doesn’t plan to open borders until 10 July.
The safe country list would be reviewed every 14 days, with new countries being added and some possibly dropping off, depending on how the spread of the disease is being managed.
The 27 EU nations and four other countries that are part of Europe’s “Schengen area” appear on track to reopen borders between each other from Wednesday.
Once that happens and the green light is given, restrictions on nonessential travel to Europe from the outside world, which were imposed in March to halt new virus cases from entering, would gradually be lifted.
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