EU takes big step toward relaxing travel for vaccinated

The European Union has taken a step toward relaxing travel rules for tourists from outside the 27-nation bloc

BRUSSELS -- The European Union took a step toward relaxing travel rules for tourists from outside the 27-nation bloc Wednesday when EU ambassadors agreed on measures to allow in fully vaccinated visitors. The ambassadors also agreed to ease the criteria needed for nations to be considered COVID-19 safe and from which all tourists can travel, depending on their coronavirus and vaccination status. Under the existing criteria, the list includes only seven nations. The EU imposed restrictions on nonessential travel last year to slow the spread of the coronavirus. The bloc's ambassadors say many of those restrictions should be eased, including to permit vacation travel by non-EU residents. The European Council made up of EU nations, “will now recommend that member states ease some of the current restrictions" for those who have been vaccinated, European Commission spokesperson Christian Wigand said. He didn’t give a precise date for when the borders will reopen since EU countries have yet to formally approve the measures.