European Council recommends EU member states lift travel ban on 14 countries, including the US

The European Council has recommended that non-essential travel bans be lifted from 14 countries, including the US, in a move that would permit citizens from the listed nations to vacation in Europe with more ease.

On Friday, the European Council said member states should consider gradually lifting travel restrictions at their external borders for residents of Albania, Australia, Israel, Japan, Lebanon, New Zealand, Republic of North Macedonia, Rwanda, Serbia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, USA and China, subject to confirmation of reciprocity.

Noticeably, the UK was absent from the EC's list but will be reviewed every two weeks.

According to the European Council, the 14 countries were selected due to their "epidemiological situation and overall response to Covid-19", as well as "the reliability of the available information and data sources".

Despite the EC's recommendation, each EU member state will have the right to impose additional requirements, including a mandatory quarantine period, a negative PCR test or proof of vaccination.

Americans can already visit the likes of Greece and Spain if they're fully vaccinated US or able to submit a negative PCR test, however, if the bloc heeds the EC's advice, the recommendation would mean that Americans would be capable of travelling to all 27 member states.