Thursday, December 16, 2021
Corona debate at the EU summit
Vaccination certificate should only be valid for nine months
France and Italy have already announced individual travel restrictions, and Europe is threatened with a new patchwork quilt. Therefore, as a result of the EU summit, the validity of vaccination certificates for travel in the EU is to be limited to a maximum of nine months. The measure should also motivate the booster vaccination.
Traveling in Europe could get more complicated given the rapid spread of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus. As a result of the discussion at the EU summit in Brussels, the EU Commission wants to propose before Christmas that corona vaccination certificates for travel within the European Union should only be valid for a maximum of nine months in the future. The aim is to motivate citizens to get quick booster vaccinations.
So far, the vaccination certificates recognized throughout Europe were valid for an unlimited period. Because of the highly contagious Omikron variant, member countries such as France have already announced that they will no longer be recognized for entry after a certain period of time – in the case of France already seven months after the full vaccination. The Commission now wants to standardize the validity of the certificates across the EU. The proposal is said to be binding on Member States and could come into force in February if a qualified majority of countries does not vote against it. The period of validity of the evidence outside of travel – for example for going to a restaurant or shopping – should, according to reports, continue to be left to the individual countries.
Measures patchwork in the EU
Further requirements of the member states such as compulsory testing for vaccinated persons were not excluded. It was simply agreed that restrictions should not undermine the functioning of the internal market and should not “disproportionately” impede freedom of movement within and into the EU. “Further coordinated efforts” are necessary in order to react on the basis of scientific data, it said in the final declaration. Basically, travel regulations are in the competence of the individual EU states.
Because of the rapid spread of the Omikron variant, Italy is already demanding a negative corona test from all travelers – including those who have been vaccinated – from other EU countries. Ireland and Greece have also introduced new testing requirements. Germany has not yet changed its rules.
Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo emphasized that he saw the solution in booster vaccinations. The Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis made a similar statement. New measures should only apply for the Christmas season in order to gain enough time for booster vaccinations. Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel said travel restrictions were not the right answer. “For me it is very important that we keep the vaccination certificate.” It is crucial for him that a PCR test is not a substitute for a vaccination. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also promoted vaccination. There is currently a huge gap between the vaccination quotas in the EU countries. In nine EU countries it is below 60 percent. In Germany, 70 percent of the population is fully vaccinated. “Vaccination and boosting is the best protection available right now.”