Travel Restrictions Lifted as Americans Can Finally Fly to Europe Again

The U.S. has been officially added to the European Union's list of countries considered safe for travel. The move allows Americans to visit EU countries for non-essential purposes.

In a statement on Friday, the European Council announced it has updated the list of countries and other areas for which travel restrictions should be lifted, which includes the U.S.

The latest update was issued following "a review under the recommendation on the gradual lifting of the temporary restrictions on non-essential travel into the EU," the statement said.

The council said: "Based on the criteria and conditions set out in the recommendation," EU member states "should gradually lift the travel restrictions at the external borders for residents" of the countries on this list.

"As stipulated in the Council recommendation, this list will continue to be reviewed every two weeks and, as the case may be, updated," the statement added.

The recommendation is not "legally binding" and "authorities of the member states remain responsible for implementing the content of the recommendation."

Individual national governments can still require travelers meet certain entry conditions, such as providing a negative COVID-19 test result or fulfill a period of quarantine.

Newsweek has contacted the European Commission for comment.

This is a developing story and this article will be updated as more information becomes available.