EU to reopen borders with 18 nations but not Russia or US - source

The Committee of Permanent Representatives in the European Union (COREPER) approved on Friday a list of 18 nations, to whom the union’s borders will start to reopen on June 1, a diplomatic source in Brussels told TASS, adding that Russia and the United States were not included into the list.

"EU envoys have achieved a political agreement on a draft list of 18 countries for reopening borders. This process will be gradual, and will begin on July 1. Russia and the United States were not included into the list, in line with epidemiological criteria," the source said.

The diplomat said the document is yet to be formally agreed by the Council of the European Union next week.

The list includes Balkan states, Canada, China, South Korea and Japan. Another diplomatic source said, however, that consultations with China were still ongoing.