Von der Leyen calls for US to lift coronavirus entry ban on Europeans

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is calling for the United States to swiftly lift its wide-reaching coronavirus entry ban for arrivals from Europe.

"We insist comparable rules be applied to arrivals in both directions," von der Leyen told German media RND in comments published Wednesday.

The epidemiological situation in the US and EU are very similar today, she said.

"We must solve this problem as soon as possible and we are in contact with our American friends," she emphasized.

"It must not drag on for weeks."

The EU put the US on its list of third countries for which restrictions would no longer apply in June.

But a wide-reaching ban on entry to the US continues to apply to people travelling from the EU.

The only exceptions are US citizens and some other groups, such as close relatives of US citizens, diplomats or employees of international organizations.