EU COMMISSION CHIEF SAYS VACCINATED AMERICANS CAN VISIT EUROPE

Americans fully vaccinated against the coronavirus should be able to travel to the European Union (EU) this summer, the European Commission president said Sunday, Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa) reported.

Ursula von der Leyen told the New York Times all 27 EU member states will "unconditionally" accept all those who have received jabs approved by the bloc's regulator, the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

"The Americans, as far as I can see, use European Medicines Agency-approved vaccines," von der Leyen said. "This will enable free movement and the travel to the EU."

She did not however give exact details of when and how tourist travel would restart, saying it would depend on the epidemiological situation.

"But the situation is improving in the US, as it is, hopefully, also improving in the EU."

EU members are currently discussing the introduction of an EU-wide vaccine passport as well as the criteria for opening its countries up for tourism.

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