European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has called on US authorities to lift the travel ban on European Union citizens, adding that the situation should not be delayed for several weeks.
In an interview with the German newspaper RND, von der Leyen stressed that the EU and the United States are on an equal footing in terms of the situation with COVID-19, emphasizing that such a problem must be resolved as soon as possible, reports SchengenVisaInfo.com.
“We are in contact with our American friends to solve this problem as soon as possible,” said the President of the European Commission.
Her comments followed as the US administration continued to take such precautionary measures, despite pressure from European authorities to lift the restrictions and allow European travelers to re-enter the United States.
However, a source in the White House told Reuters earlier that “currently” the US administration does not plan to lift the entry ban imposed on travelers from the Schengen area and other countries where the situation with COVID-19 is not considered under control. Such measures persist, mainly due to the rapid spread of the Delta option in these countries.
On June 18, the European Union lifted an entry ban imposed on passengers arriving from the United States after they were added to the EU’s list of epidemiologically safe third countries. However, the United States has not followed suit and has not lifted the current ban for more than 16 months.
Earlier, US President Joe Biden gave European citizens hope that the ban could be lifted soon. His comments were made during a press conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the White House.
However, the German Chancellor said that President Biden had also told her the same thing during the meeting.
“It simply came to our notice then. It is pointless to return it in a few days, “Merkel stressed.
The ban is constantly being criticized by many governments and organizations. Earlier, EU Ambassador to the United States Stavros Lambrinidis said that the US decision to block the travel process also affects the fact that businessmen can not control their investment in the United States.
In addition, the German Association of Mechanical Engineering (VCMA) also criticized the ban on entry to the United States in a letter addressed to the US Embassy in Berlin. He called on the authorities to lift the ban and easily decide for German citizens to travel across the Atlantic.
In March 2020, Donald Trump banned travelers from most European countries as part of efforts to prevent the virus from spreading further.