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The European Union is set to lift travel restrictions for US residents as soon as this week, The Telegraph understands. The move would end quarantine for all transatlantic visitors, regardless of their vaccination status, and allow non-essential travel across the EU bloc.
Portugal, which holds the rotating presidency of the EU, has proposed adding the US, Albania, Hong Kong, Lebanon, Macau, the Republic of Northern Macedonia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, and Taiwan to the expanded ‘white list’ of countries from which non-essential travel is permitted, according to a diplomat familiar with the matter.
Assuming no objections, EU government envoys in Brussels will approve the expanded white list today, the diplomat said, asking not to be named, in line with policy.
While some EU member states already allow vaccinated Americans to visit, inclusion in the list means that restrictions will be lifted across the bloc. However, transatlantic travel would not fully open until the US reciprocates; it currently restricts most EU residents from entering the country.
Scroll down for more on this, and other top travel stories.
Nicola Sturgeon blames UK border controls as she delays Scotland’s lockdown release date
Mainland Scotland will not move down to the lowest level of Covid restrictions for at least five weeks, Nicola Sturgeon has disclosed as she delayed once more the easing of lockdown.
Blaming the postponement of her lockdown timetable on the UK Government, she said there was “no doubt at all” that lax UK border controls contributed to the rise of the Indian variant. The First Minister said the failure to introduce tougher rules was “deeply frustrating” and suggested the country was now “paying a price” for it.
Attacking the UK Government’s refusal to introduce hotel quarantine earlier this year for international arrivals from all countries, she said: “The lack of very robust border controls in recent months has, I think has been a factor in the situation that we’re dealing with right now and that is deeply frustrating we are where we are.”
EasyJet switches planes to Germany as Europe opens up to foreign travel
Credit:
Getty
EasyJet, Britain’s biggest budget airline, has moved its planes from the UK to Germany because Europe is opening up to foreign travel faster than the UK.
The airline has switched planes that would have transported British holidaymakers to Europe to Berlin, from where they will fly Germans and other tourists to Spain.
The move will sound further alarm bells in the travel industry that the UK is in danger of losing out to its European counterparts economically as they open up to international travel more quickly.
Most of the main Mediterranean countries, including Spain, Italy, Greece and Portugal, have opened to tourists who can either prove they have been vaccinated, have a negative PCR test or evidence of immunity through having contracted Covid.
Tuesday’s headlines
Before we begin, here’s a quick recap of yesterday’s top stories:
- Wales considers introducing a ‘tourism tax’
- Scotland travel rules should be stricter, says MSP
- Celebrity Cruises cancels Greenock stop following Scottish ban
- Ferry company to launch temporary Wales–Northern Ireland link
- First international cruise ship docks in Spain after ban lifted
- Demand surges for holidays to green-listed Iceland and Gibraltar
Now, on with today’s travel news.