Europe to Open External Borders to Tourists Starting July 1

The European Commission is recommending the lifting of restrictions on non-essential travel across the European Union’s (E.U.) external borders, beginning July 1. That means that, for the first time in four months, international visitors—not just those inside the E.U. bloc—will be able to start vacationing in Europe.
But, lifting the blanket ban on foreign tourism doesn’t necessarily mean that E.U. countries will be welcoming everyone equally. At the outset, travelers from high-risk areas, including the United States, may not be permitted entry. The current expectation is that travelers from low-risk countries will be the first green-lit for entry into Europe, as the COVID-19 infection rate wanes.