EU condemns US coronavirus travel ban

By Agnes Szucs

BRUSSELS (AA) - Top EU officials on Thursday condemned the U.S.’ European travel ban, criticizing how it was taken without communication or consultation between allies.

“The European Union disapproves of the fact that the U.S. decision to impose a travel ban was taken unilaterally and without consultation,” said European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in a joint statement.

“The coronavirus is a global crisis, not limited to any continent and it requires cooperation,” they added.

U.S. President Donald Trump late Wednesday announced that the U.S. would restrict all travel from Europe with the exception of the U.K. in an effort to contain the new coronavirus.

The EU will concentrate its efforts on preventing the further spread of the virus and the economic fallout, said European Commission spokesperson Eric Mamer.

The bloc is not planning on responding immediately to the U.S. measures, he explained, saying: “The EU isn’t in the habit of shooting from the hip. Good policymaking requires reflection.”