As COVID-19 continues to rise in the USA, European travel restrictions are expected to return. The European Union has targeted five countries, including the United States, to impose new travel restrictions. This includes testing and quarantine requirements for travelers who are not vaccinated. However, it is not clear if U.S. citizens will have their borders completely closed.
As COVID-19 cases rise, European Union expects to impose new restrictions on American travelers
The European Union's leaders reviewed their list of safe countries this week, in light of the disturbing increase in cases and the rise in vaccine hesitancy that has led to more severe cases in the USA. The USA did not make it to the list, which focuses only on two areas.
Numbers of cases
Reciprocity considerations
The USA is not included in either of these metrics. The number of cases has risen to more than 150,000 per day with the trend in the upwards, not downward. The ratio of positive tests to total tests is decreasing, which is something that EU authorities must consider when making a decision.
The second metric is reciprocity. This issue continues to frustrate EU leaders, who have not been in a position to convince the Biden Administration that U.S. travel restrictions should be lifted for residents of 26 Schengen nations as well as Republic of Ireland.
The current U.S. rules are absurd according to the European Union members. They reward some countries and punish others without regard to actual cases or vaccine progress. View From The Wing spotted a statement by American Airlines CEO Doug Parker in a New York Times interview. I found it equally fascinating.
A consultant, who is from Munich, came in to assist us. To get to the United States she flew to Cancun, where she stayed for two weeks. After that, she was allowed to enter. She felt safer in Munich than in Cancun. That's exactly what we were doing.
Europeans may become tired of a system they consider absurd, and entry restrictions could be reintroduced to reflect this lack of proportionality.
According to reports, the European Union will update its list of countries that are epidemiologically safe on Monday. This move is likely to result in recommendations for restrictions on travel from the United States but not a ban. Similar restrictions will be applied to five other countries, including:
Kosovo
Israel
Lebanon
Montenegro
North Macedonia
For U.S. citizens who have not been fully vaccinated, both testing and quarantine will be required.
However, the EU will not make any recommendations. Each member state will be able to adjust its policies regarding American travelers. Summer travel is still underway so it's possible that an entry ban or more severe restrictions will only be implemented next month. Germany, for instance, has already taken steps to restrict unvaccinated Americans.
The European Union decided earlier this month that it would not alter its safe travel list. The United States is currently included in the white list, along with 19 other countries deemed safe by COVID-19 cases numbers and vaccination rates.
Reuters reports that the EU countries are divided on whether to punish the United States because it has not reciprocated. Several member states, which heavily rely upon tourism, expressed hesitation in removing the USA from the safe list. Travel restrictions will be back, despite increasing numbers of cases.
CONCLUSION
The EU leaders have a great cover to block Americans from traveling to Europe on reciprocity grounds due to the rising number of cases in the USA. Whatever the reason, transatlantic travel recovery is in a state of great uncertainty. It's possible that Americans could be prevented from traveling to Europe again soon, particularly if they are not vaccinated. Next week, new rules will be in effect.
