BORIS Johnson will next week attempt to face down Angela Merkel to allow British tourists to travel to EU countries this summer.
The PM will meet the German leader at Chequers on Friday amid increasing fears she is pushing to impose a European Union-wide quarantine on British tourists — including those who have been double-jabbed.
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Government sources told The Mail on Sunday they fear British tourists are being unfairly punished by the EU.
It is claimed the UK is being penalised because of its advanced ability to spot new mutations of the virus mutation.
Tomorrow, Germany, with the support of France, will propose an EU-wide 14-day quarantine policy for visitors from what it considers countries of concern for Covid variants, including the UK.
The move threatens to derail holidays for millions of Britons, who have rushed to book trips to Ibiza, Majorca, Menorca, Malta and Madeira after the UK Government put them on its green list of places not requiring quarantine on return.
Greece, a major destination for holidaying Brits, has told Germany and France to step up their vaccination rates instead of shutting out British tourists.
Spain is also defying attempts by Merkel to impose an EU-wide mandatory quarantine for all Brits and Cyprus, Malta and Portugal are also expected to follow suit.
Transport secretary Grant Shapps blamed the EU’s slow jab rate for the German Chancellor’s bid to block British holidaymakers.
He told BBC Breakfast: “I think it is understandable if you are in
Germany … and you have yet to reach the level of vaccination that we have seen here or in Malta, that you’re going to be more concerned. That may be just a question of waiting for their vaccination programme.”
Huw Merriman, chairman of the Commons transport committee, said it would be “madness” for the EU nations to impose mandatory quarantine, considering how much they contribute to their hosts’ economies.
Meanwhile, Mr Johnson faces mounting internal pressure to speed up quarantine-free travel for those who are double-jabbed.
