President Biden indicates that the end of the European travel restrictions may soon be upon us.

President Joe Biden suggests that the ban on European travelers entering the U.S. could soon be lifted, or at least we might finally receive a timeline for its removal.

Following a bilateral meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on July 15, Biden stated, "In the coming days, I’ll provide clarity on what to expect," adding, "I'm awaiting guidance from our COVID team on the timing of this decision."

Frustration has been mounting in Europe over the ongoing travel ban on European visitors to the United States, especially as Europe opened its doors to American tourists in June.

The initial ban prohibited most foreigners who had traveled to certain restricted countries within the last 14 days from entering the U.S.

The ban was initially implemented by the Trump administration in March 2020.

It prohibited entry into the United States for non-citizens who had been in the U.K., Ireland, 26 Schengen Area nations, China, Iran, or Brazil within the past 14 days. In November 2020, there were discussions about lifting this travel ban from Europe, but it was ultimately extended by President Biden.

For months, the Biden Administration faced mounting pressure to reopen the borders to European travelers.

Celia Belin, a visiting fellow at the Center on the United States and Europe at the Brookings Institution, discussed the ban with Bloomberg, emphasizing her long-standing call for its repeal. She stated, "In a democracy like this and with the alliance of democracies that Biden aims to foster, the arbitrary and discriminatory nature of this travel ban is a serious blemish."

As of January 26, the U.S. mandated that all travelers, including citizens, arriving from abroad present a negative COVID-19 test taken no more than three days before their flight.

The Schengen Area comprises 26 countries: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.