Brussels: European Union leaders try on Thursday to coordinate actions to overcome the surge in Coronavirus infection across the continent and the emergence of new Omicron variants when maintaining the border.
With a towering celebration season, the block leaders want to avoid a mixture of confusing rules and to ensure all 27 member countries are on the same page and that Covid-19 certificates continue to guarantee unlimited trips.
But it is worried about the increase in infection has encouraged many European governments to implement public health steps and new restrictions in recent weeks.
The European Council, which brought together European Union leaders to set the political agenda of the block, said before the talks in Brussels that “whatever restrictions should not damage the single market function or hamper trips between UE member countries and to Europe.” Italy this week requires a negative test from vaccinated visitors, increasing concerns that move similar elsewhere will limit the ability of the UE citizens to travel to see friends and relatives during the holidays.
Portugal adopted a similar step on December 1, requiring a mandatory negative test for all passengers on flight arrived, regardless of their vaccination status, point of origin or nationality.
Greece announced on Wednesday that all who arrived must display negative tests starting on Sundays unless they have spent less than 48 hours abroad.
Leaders will discuss the launch of the vaccine and the need to use a booster dose to fight the spread of omicron.
“One answer to Omicron is now the acceleration of our vaccination program, with a special emphasis on Booster’s shot,” said Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsakotakis.
“In Greece, we are one of the first European countries to open a shot from a booster to the entire population.” Mitsoakis said the steps of additional restrictions, such as extra testing for visitors, should only apply during the Christmas period “so that we can get additional time to improve as many people as possible.
This is fighting against time.” Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin said that leaders had significant concerns about the capacity of omicrons to spread rapidly and create pressure on the health system.
Omicron is expected to be the dominant Coronavirus variant in 27 European Union countries in mid-January, according to the President of the European Commission Ursula Von Der Leyen.
He said that more than 66% of the EU population was now fully vaccinated, but the number did not offer a clear view of the contrasting UE image.
While countries like Portugal and Spain have mounced most of their people, other countries miss.
Bulgaria, for example, only has 26.6% of the population is fully vaccinated, according to the center of Europe for prevention and control of the disease.