Covid-19: Europeans start a summit in scattered order

The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, in Brussels, February 17, 2021. REUTERS - POOL

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2 min

A European summit of heads of state and government of the 27 is being held this Thursday and until Friday by videoconference with a menu that does not change: the Covid-19 pandemic.

Better coordinate the fight against the disease, boost the vaccination campaign.

But once is not custom, the Europeans appear before the Council in dispersed order.

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First, on the question of borders.

With the rise of aggressive variants of the Covid, several countries including Germany, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Sweden and Hungary have taken

very restrictive measures

and got slapped on the fingers earlier this week by the European Commission because of the obstacles they pose to freedom of movement in Europe.

The summit which opens this Thursday should serve as a collective call to order. 

Then on the vaccination certificates.

It is a device pushed by Cyprus and Greece who want to save their tourist season.

According to the Greek government, anyone who has been vaccinated and has this medical passport should have the right to travel as they see fit throughout the Union.

For the moment, this proposal is not unanimous.

Several Member States, including France, are awaiting confirmation that all vaccines make it possible to eliminate the contagious risk.

As well as guarantees over the duration of the immunity conferred by the preparations of Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca.

But on one point everyone agrees: this certificate must be developed on a European scale to avoid the cacophony of every man for himself.

► To read also: The idea of ​​a vaccine passport divides in France and in Europe

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  • European Union

  • Coronavirus

  • Vaccines

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