EU Removes U.S. From Safe Travel List

Salzburg and the Salzach River at night

The European Union on Monday removed the United States and five other countries from a list of countries allowed non-essential travel.

The decision came amidst the surge in coronavirus cases there fueled by the Delta variant.

The EU travel list isn’t binding on member states but is used as a guide by the various countries in the bloc.

In addition, officials there have been under pressure because Washington has continued to maintain a ban on non-essential travel to the United States from Europe.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen earlier in the month warned that the bloc would not allow the lack of reciprocity to “drag on for weeks.”

The decision to place the United States on the safe list came first in June amidst an effort to change the tenor of the relationship after the tumultuous Trump years.   Currently, over 20 countries are on the list including Albania, Armenia, Australia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Israel, Japan, Jordan, New Zealand, Qatar, Serbia, Singapore, and South Korea.

(Photo: Accura Media Group)