A beach worker installs mattresses on deckchairs during preparations for the reopenning of restaurants, bars and beaches in Nice as part of an easing of the country's lockdown restrictions amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in France, May 17, 2021. (Photo: Reuters)

Ambassadors from the 27 EU countries approved a European Commission proposal from May 3 to loosen the criteria to determine "safe" countries and to let in fully vaccinated tourists from elsewhere, EU sources said.

They are expected to set a new list this week or early next week. Based on data from the European Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Britain and a number of other countries would meet the new criteria.

The United States would not, although Americans with proof of vaccination would be welcomed.