A vaccination certificate is being discussed in the EU.
The last chance for summer tourism?
Or a mistake in terms of ethics?
But there is another problem.
Greece demands a vaccination certificate for summer vacationers.
Anyone who is vaccinated against the coronavirus should be allowed to travel within the EU without restriction.
Critics have ethical concerns, supporters see an opportunity for summer tourism.
Brussels - Should vaccinated people receive preferential treatment?
As the first federal minister,
Heiko Maas
(SPD) recently called for people with
corona vaccinations to be given
certain special rights: "
Vaccinated
people
should be able to exercise their basic rights again," the foreign minister told
Bild am Sonntag
.
Specifically, this could mean a visit to a restaurant or cinema, said the SPD politician.
Corona summit of the EU: Greece demands vaccination certificate
Health Minister
Jens Spahn
(CDU) then endeavored not to lead this debate at all or not yet to lead it.
“As long as it is not clear whether a person who has been vaccinated can transmit the virus, there can be no exceptions,” said the Federal Ministry of Health.
The fact that the previously rather theoretical debate has long been a source of ignition became evident on Thursday at the latest during the
EU summit
.
Greece's Prime Minister
Kyriakos Mitsotakis
called for people who have been vaccinated to travel freely - on the basis of a
vaccination certificate
recognized
throughout the
European Union
.
This move sparked divided reactions within the EU.
While some countries like
Germany
or
France are
still holding back, more and more countries are rushing forward.
Corona summit of the EU: Council President wants to resolve "sensitive debate"
In addition to
Greece
,
Malta
,
Portugal
,
Croatia
and especially
Spain are in
favor of such an EU-wide vaccination passport.
Spanish Foreign Minister
Arancha Gonzalez
sees such a document as "a very important element in ensuring a safe return to mobility".
Meanwhile, the supporters of the vaccination certificate received support from
EU Council President Charles Michel in
the evening
.
On Dutch television, the Belgian welcomed Greece's advance - even if it did not create immediate enthusiasm in every EU member state: "The debate is sensitive, but just because a debate is complicated or sensitive, we must not avoid it." is his job to create a "European unity even for difficult questions".
+
The EU heads of state and government want to vote at their video summit on how to deal with new variants of the new corona virus.
Chancellor Angela Merkel (below, 2nd from right) is also there.
© Olivier Hoslet / Pool EPA / AP / dp
Corona in Europe: The number of people vaccinated within the European Union
The biggest controversy at the EU summit currently seems to be the timing,
Michel
knows that too
.
Because comparatively few people in the EU are currently
vaccinated
against
Covid-19
.
In the entire
European Union
it is 1.58 percent.
The discrepancy within the EU is huge.
While
more than three percent of the population is already vaccinated
in
Malta
and
Denmark
, it is
significantly less than a hundredth
in the
Netherlands
and
Bulgaria
.
Incidentally, the EU Commission considers a
vaccination rate
of
70 percent
of adults in the EU to be feasible by August.
EU state |
Vaccination rate in percent * |
1. Malta |
3.5 |
2. Denmark |
3.2 |
3. Ireland |
2.5 |
4. Spain |
2.4 |
7. Italy |
2.1 |
10. Austria |
1.8 |
11. Germany |
1.7 |
14. Sweden |
1.4 |
21. Greece |
1.2 |
23. Portugal |
1.4 |
24. France |
1.0 |
26. Netherlands |
0.6 |
27. Bulgaria |
0.3 |
Corona summit of the EU: EPP boss Weber sees "ethical problems at the beginning"
The
EU Council President
understands that the move could lead to problems
.
Michels
spoke of the "great frustration" of non-vaccinated people who would then be denied travel.
The advocates of the vaccination certificate meanwhile argue with the worrying economic situation.
Countries like
Spain
or
Greece
are simply dependent on summer tourism.
A lack of income is fatal.
Due to the current low vaccination rate, however, it is forbidden to have this debate now, countered the other side.
The move was "very premature," said France's European
Minister Clement Beaun
.
The group of Christian Democrats in the EU Parliament, the
European People's Party
, also took note of the debate with mixed feelings: "We see ethical problems at the beginning, as certain groups will only have access to the vaccine later," said group leader
Manfred Weber (CSU)
der
Bild
, “but we are currently necessarily severely restricting the basic rights of citizens.
That has to be re-weighed as soon as a person protects himself and, in a certain sense, others from infection. "
Corona summit of the EU: Von der Leyen strives for neutrality - debate continues
However, some in the EU Parliament categorically reject this consideration alone.
EU Commissioner
Maros Sefcovic
argued that all the advantages of a
corona vaccination
discriminate against all people who cannot or do not want to be vaccinated and “limit their rights and freedoms.” Federal Interior Minister
Horst Seehofer
(CSU) recently hit a similar line and sees in privileges for vaccinated people a compulsory vaccination through the back door.
That could divide society.
Meanwhile,
EU Commission President
Ursula von der Leyen
tried to be neutral.
In the finest diplomatic language, the former Federal Minister declared that it was a "political and legal decision".
It was not clear what role she played in this.
And that's probably not the only reason why the debate will continue to
occupy
the EU well beyond the
Corona summit
.
Exit open.
(as)
* Source: Our World in Data, as of January 21, 9:30 p.m. Incidentally, the global vaccination rate is 0.7 percent. It is greatest in Israel, where 37.1 percent of the population have already been vaccinated against Covid-19. You can find the full list here.
List of rubric lists: © Olivier Hoslet / Pool EPA / AP / dp