The EU list of third countries whose residents can travel to the European Union without restrictions will be updated on Monday 30 August, according to two EU Council sources who spoke with EUROPE on Friday 27 August.
Member States could remove a number of third countries from the list due to the worsening health situation caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, including the United States, which was first included on the list in June (see EUROPE 12742/4).
While one source told EUROPE that the process to remove the USA from the common list has already been launched, two other sources preferred to wait for the final outcome of the consultation of Member States and the end of the so-called silence procedure before making a statement.
Currently, the EU list contains 25 countries and territories: Ukraine, the United States, North Macedonia, Albania, Serbia, Lebanon, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macao, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei, Canada, Jordan, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and China, subject to reciprocity.
According to Reuters, Kosovo, Lebanon, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Israel are to be removed from the joint list on 30 August, along with the USA. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)