Holidaymakers will find out within hours if more destinations will get the green light for quarantine-free travel – but many are set to be disappointed.
There has been speculation that the Balearics, some Greek and Caribbean islands and Malta could be added to an extended green category in the travel traffic light system.
However, government ministers have suggested there will be few changes with maybe just Malta promoted from the amber list of destinations to green.
The USA could also be upgraded although discussions are ongoing ahead of President Joe Biden's visit to Cornwall for the G7 Summit later this month. There is still scope for change with the Balearic islands in particular still confident of gaining green status.
Traffic light system for Europe
It is forecast that major alterations will be delayed until the next review on June 28 - after Prime Minister Boris Johnson decides whether to lift general restrictions from June 21.
EU ambassador to the UK Joao Vale de Almeida said he believed UK visitors would be able to jet to popular resorts in Spain, Greece and Italy by July.
He said: "We're hopeful that sometime later in summer, around July, we could be in a situation where travel and tourism is made a lot easier."
EU ministers were expected to add the UK to its list of countries from which they will allow non-essential travel, but they decided to postpone a decision until mid-June at the earliest.
The UK met EU requirements but was left off the safe travel list because of the increase in cases arising from the Indian variant of the Covid virus.
Ministers said Britain could be added to the list, depending on the course of the variant, in mid-June, when a larger group of countries are expected to be considered.
The EU Covid passport scheme is expected to be in operation from July 1.
