Europe just updated its list of countries whose residents are eligible to visit the EU, and the U.S. did not make the cut.
Instead Japan was added, according to a statement from EU transport ministers following a meeting on Thursday.
That means starting today, EU countries are requested—not directed—to allow nonessential travel for all Japanese residents regardless of whether they have been vaccinated.
The country joins seven others allowed open access to the EU, including Australia, New Zealand, Israel, South Korea, and Singapore.
That doesn’t necessarily mean Americans can’t spend their summer vacation in Europe. The U.S. may qualify later, and the recommendation does not apply to travelers with proof of vaccination.
“This list will continue to be reviewed every two weeks and, as the case may be, updated,” said the Council of the EU in the statement.
While its low infection rate means the U.S. easily meets one of the key criteria for approval, there are many more factors, and their respective weighting in any decision is unclear.
For example, the trend in new cases in the U.S. actually increased, which would likely not count in its favor. The incidence rate per 100,000 inhabitants over the past two weeks rose to 25.5 through Sunday from 24.6 seven days earlier, according to the latest data from the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control.
Moreover the EU considers the number of tests performed, the positivity rate, the overall response to COVID-19 in the country, and the reliability of information available, in addition to a country’s progress on vaccination.
The rules also introduce a more arbitrary, political element into the equation. “Reciprocity should continue to be taken into account on a case by case basis,” according to the council.
That’s the reason it cited for not recommending Chinese residents enter the EU freely. The 27 member states have decided jointly to apply reciprocity in the specific case of China, and that is the only criterion where Beijing has come short.
