UPDATE: Is the European Union really considering another ban on Americans?

Reports indicate that the European Union is reconsidering an immediate decision on allowing Americans to enter its 27 member states. Speculation has surged regarding a potential vote to reimpose a ban on Americans due to the rising delta variant COVID-19 cases in various regions of the United States.

The Washington Post reported on Aug. 11, "After circulating rumors about possible travel restrictions for U.S. travelers, the European Union has decided to hold off on reimposing them for now."

However, according to the Post, "If conditions do not improve in the next fortnight, the council might remove the United States from the safe travel list, as stated by an official who requested anonymity due to not being authorized to speak publicly on the issue."

Last week, Reuters reported that the European Union would be reviewing its list of countries eligible for relaxed entry rules this week.

An EU official cited by Reuters revealed that the bloc is considering revoking the entry permissions granted to certain Americans that have been in effect since earlier this summer.

Currently, the European Union maintains a coronavirus safe list that includes around two dozen countries, with the United States being one of them.

On Monday, Reuters reported, citing anonymous EU officials, that they have temporarily abandoned plans to impose bans on Americans. "The European Union will not alter its safe travel list this week, an EU official informed Reuters on Monday, allowing non-essential travel from the United States to proceed for now, despite the increase in COVID cases there."

Naveed Jamali, a national security expert and author of "How to Catch a Russian Spy," told TPG, "Given the inconsistent approach to masks and vaccines across the states, it’s no surprise that the EU might be concerned about Americans bringing COVID. I worry about them spreading it here."

The EU's reconsideration of allowing American tourists is fueled not only by the delta variant but also by the lingering frustration among many Europeans that the U.S. remains closed to European travelers.

As we mentioned last month, President Biden informed the press during a joint news conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on July 15 that an announcement regarding easing restrictions might come "within the next several days," but that has yet to materialize.

Bloomberg reports that the U.S. has surpassed the EU's threshold of no more than 75 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents. The current official case rate in the United States is nearing 270 cases per 100,000 and continues to rise, according to Bloomberg.

To implement any ban, a majority of the 27 member states would need to approve it, and each country would have the authority to set its own entry regulations.

European nations that depend heavily on tourism reopened their borders early to vaccinated U.S. travelers, including Iceland, France, Spain, Croatia, Portugal, and Greece— countries that are unlikely to impose a total ban on Americans.

For the time being, Americans can relax as there are no immediate changes to the current travel rules.

In any event, Bloomberg's source indicates that a ban on Americans would likely not extend to those who are fully vaccinated. This would significantly reduce the ban's impact on Americans, as most European nations are already mandating vaccinations for entry.

Tim Jue, a reporter based in San Francisco who covers airlines and travel, told TPG that if a complete ban is enacted, it will be "devastating for travelers planning to return to Europe, myself included. It will also further hinder the recovery of international travel, which is disappointing for those relying on open borders for their livelihoods."

JohnnyJet founder and editor-in-chief John E. DiScala mentioned to TPG, "I understand the EU's potential decision to ban Americans due to our alarming COVID-19 rates and the indifferent attitude of many Americans. However, the silver lining is that if they do impose the ban, I believe some countries like Greece will still permit entry without quarantine requirements."

Any new restrictions would significantly impact the EU's travel industry. The revival of transatlantic flights has aided the EU aviation sector's recovery over the past few months. Bloomberg notes that, based on OAG data, European airlines are currently operating at 70% of their pre-pandemic capacity.

The EU began allowing fully vaccinated American tourists to enter in June.

Travelers heading to most EU countries are required to be vaccinated with one of the vaccines that have been approved in the EU, which includes any vaccine authorized for use in the U.S. such as Johnson & Johnson, Moderna, or Pfizer.

Brian Summers, editor-at-large for the travel site Skift, shared his thoughts:

"As travelers, many of us are eager to return to normalcy as soon as possible and certainly wish to avoid any setbacks. A brave group of Americans managed to revisit Europe this summer, enjoying themselves like in the old days. However, we must keep in mind that we are still navigating a pandemic that occurs once a century. While the worst may be behind us, the road to recovery is not straightforward. If Europe believes that restricting American visitors is the best decision, travelers must come to terms with it. The silver lining is that the peak tourism season is winding down. Let's hope that by next summer, everything will be resolved, allowing Americans to return in large numbers."

Jue remarked, "This recovery will involve progress and setbacks. We might encounter some challenges, but I believe these closed borders are only a temporary situation and won't endure as long as they did last year, especially with safe and effective vaccines available."