EU Could Ease Restrictions on Nonessential Visitors

The European Union announced Wednesday it would recommend its member countries allow fully vaccinated visitors from outside the bloc.

European Commission spokesman Christian Wigand told reporters in Brussels that ambassadors of the EU's 27 member states agreed to ease the criteria for nations to be considered a safe country from which all people can travel.   Currently, only seven nations are considered safe, based on their COVID-19 infection rates.  The EU imposed strict measures last year to contain outbreaks, but the bloc's ambassadors say many of the restrictions on nonessential travel should be eased as more people around the world are vaccinated and the summer tourism season approaches.