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Merkel: Unvaccinated people should be able to travel in Europe this summer
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Merkel: Unvaccinated people should be able to travel in Europe this summer

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© 2025 IamExpat Media B.V.
© 2025 IamExpat Media B.V.
May 10, 2021
Abi Carter

Editor in chief at IamExpat Media

Abi studied German and History at the University of Manchester and has since lived in Berlin, Hamburg and Utrecht, working since 2017 as a writer, editor and content marketeer. Although she's happily taken on some German and Dutch quirks, she keeps a stash of Yorkshire Tea on hand, because nowhere does a brew quite like home.Read more

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said that she is “very hopeful” that people who have not been vaccinated against coronavirus will also be allowed to travel within Europe this summer. 

Travel will be possible for both vaccinated and unvaccinated

“Considering what low levels of infection some EU countries like Portugal already have now, I am very hopeful that we can afford overall what was possible last summer,” the chancellor said on Saturday, following a video conference with other EU leaders. 

Germany may be easing restrictions for vaccinated people only, but Angela Merkel was adamant that when it came to holidays abroad, the rules would “of course” apply to everyone, both vaccinated and unvaccinated - although she could not yet state exactly when this would be. 

She said that in Germany, “we seem to have broken the third wave”, adding that as incidence rates fall, people can be given more freedom. “Hopefully that will be the case for the whole of Europe.” 

Spahn advises against major long-distance travel

Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn was also optimistic about the possibility of travel over the summer holidays. “Travelling within the EU will probably not depend on vaccinations,” he told the Rheinische Post. “You will also be able to travel Europe-wide with a [negative] test.” 

However, he tempered that by advising people in Germany not to get too ambitious with their travel plans. “In this hopefully last phase of the pandemic, I would not plan any major long-distance trips,” he said. “The North Sea instead of the South Pacific, so to speak.” 

By Abi Carter