Speaking to the New York Times, Von der Leyen said US visitors would be admitted so long as they had received a full course of an approved vaccine against Covid-19.

However, she gave no indication of when the EU may open its borders to US travellers on this basis.

The Times reported talks between the bloc and the US over how vaccine certification could be used to restart transatlantic travel were at an "advanced stage".

"The Americans, as far as I can see, use European Medicines Agency-approved vaccines," said Von der Leyen. "This will enable free movement and the travel to the European Union."

She added all 27 EU member states would accept, without condition, visitors fully vaccinated with a vaccine certificated by the EMA, the EU’s health regulator.

So far, the EMA has approved all three vaccines being used in the US – Moderna, Pfizer/BioNTech and Johnson & Johnson.