EU borders will likely remain closed to the US, Latin American countries, and Russia this summer

Americans living in Prague and the Czech Republic have been waiting to get the all-clear on visits from US-based friends and family since the EU closed its borders in March.

On Wednesday, EU diplomats met to discuss the criteria that states must meet in order to be included on its “green list” of countries cleared for entry into Europe.

The main criterion discussed by the EU ambassadors at Wednesday’s meeting was the number of infected people, which should not exceed 16 infected per 100,000 inhabitants in two weeks, the current EU average.

About two dozen countries are on the working list so far, among them Balkan and Asian countries, including China.

The epidemiological situation in the United States, a number of Latin American countries, and Russia currently exceed the aforementioned figures: in the US, for example, that number exceeds 100, while Russia has around 80 infected per 100,000 inhabitants, CTK reports.

In the EU, most border controls have been lifted or will be lifted by member states this month; the commission is now working toward a recommendation to gradually allow visitors from non-EU countries, possibly from next week.

For more advice on summer travel see our Facebook live with JayWay Travel and Expats Zone above.