#US not on EU’s ‘safe’ destination travel list amid coronavirus

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People stand in line at a clinic offering quick coronavirus testing in Long Beach, California.
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The European Union is poised to keep the US – as well as Russia and Brazil – off the initial “safe list” of destinations for non-essential travel during the coronavirus pandemic, according to a report.

The 27-member block is expected to vote Tuesday on approving leisure and business travel to 14 countries — Algeria, Australia, Canada, Georgia, Japan, Montenegro, Morocco, New Zealand, Rwanda, Serbia, South Korea, Thailand, Tunisia and Uruguay, Reuters reported.

Citing three diplomats, the news outlet said the US, Russia and Brazil will not make the cut.

China also would be provisionally approved, but travel would only open up if Beijing also allowed in EU visitors, according to the report, which noted that reciprocity is a prerequisite of being on the safe list.

Tuesday’s vote is aimed at supporting the EU’s travel industry and tourist destinations, particularly southern European countries hardest hit by the coronavirus outbreak.

The safe list must be approved by a “qualified majority” of EU countries, meaning 15 of them representing 65 percent of the population. Four EU diplomats said they expected it to secure the necessary support.

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The list will serve as a recommendation to EU countries, which will almost certainly not permit access to travelers from other countries, but could potentially set restrictions on those arriving from the 14 nations, Reuters reported.

[Meanwhile, the EU is moving toward finalizing a list of countries whose citizens will be allowed to enter Europe again in coming days, with the US almost certain to be excluded in the short term due to the surging number of coronavirus cases in the country.

Spain’s foreign minister said the list could contain 15 non-EU countries whose citizens would be allowed to visit beginning Wednesday.

EU diplomats confirmed on condition of anonymity that the list would be made public on Tuesday.


President Trump suspended the entry of all people from Europe’s ID check-free travel zone in a decree in March, making it highly unlikely that American citizens would qualify.

With Post wires