The EU member states are discussing how to proceed in the corona pandemic.
The main topics of dispute are border controls and the introduction of a European corona vaccination pass.
Brussels - On Thursday afternoon (February 25, 2021), from 3 p.m., Chancellor Angela Merkel and her EU colleagues will discuss the joint fight against the corona pandemic.
In this context, the acceleration of the corona vaccinations and the slowing down of virus mutations should be discussed in particular.
In addition, the dispute over stricter border controls in Germany and other countries should be settled.
The creation of a standardized EU corona vaccination pass is also to be discussed.
First and foremost, the video summit will be about speeding up vaccinations and remedying the vaccine deficiency.
Vaccination against the coronavirus is currently progressing much more slowly in the EU than, for example, in Great Britain, the USA or Israel.
This is mainly due to a lack of vaccine.
Therefore, the heads of state and government want to discuss a faster approval of the funds.
Production and deliveries are to be increased.
Manufacturers are expected to fulfill their commitments, wrote EU Council Chairman Charles Michel in his letter of invitation to the EU summit.
EU summit: disagreement over border controls and criticism of Germany's solo effort
The controversial topic of the EU summit is likely to be the tightened border controls of Germany and other countries.
In fact, a few weeks ago the EU states agreed on a uniform procedure at the borders.
Germany has broken this agreement by introducing stricter controls on the borders with the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Austria.
This has caused criticism from the EU Commission, as commuters and important goods are being held up at the borders and the internal market is therefore likely to suffer.
Finally, the heads of state and government will be discussed at the EU summit on the introduction of a European corona vaccination pass.
So far, the 27 member states have only agreed that there should be mutually recognized proof of a corona vaccination.
This should work via a database for registering the vaccinations and a personalized QR code for vaccinated persons.
The member states disagree as to whether there should be advantages associated with proof of vaccination.
No agreement: will the corona vaccination pass for EU citizens come?
Germany, France and others have reservations because it is unclear whether people who have been vaccinated will pass the virus on.
The opponents also fear mandatory vaccination through the back door.
Opinions on this subject differ widely.
The Vice-President of the European Parliament and former Federal Minister of Justice, Katarina Barley (SPD), considers the discussion to be premature.
However, she also explained to Südwestrundfunk that a restriction of basic rights could no longer be justified if people who had been vaccinated could no longer transmit the virus.
The FDP politician Nicola Beer - also Vice President of the EU Parliament -
has already
pleaded with the
German Press Agency
for a debate about a European Corona vaccination certificate.
The Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP) has already announced that he is campaigning for a European vaccination pass, which is supposed to be based on the “Green Pass” in Israel.
In Israel, people who have recovered from a corona infection and have been vaccinated against the virus with the “Green Pass” have been able to visit gyms, theaters and sporting events as well as stay in hotels.
Promotion of freedom of travel: especially important for tourism countries
A similar vaccination certificate is to be introduced in the EU, according to Kurz, "preferably digitally on the mobile phone".
In this way, the vaccinated should "get back all the freedoms that we value so much".
In this way, freedom of travel could be restored in Europe.
Especially countries like Greece and Cyprus, which are dependent on tourism, therefore also require such an EU vaccination certificate.
The heads of state and government of the EU member states discuss cooperation in the Corona crisis about once a month.
Another summit video conference on foreign and security policy issues is planned for Friday.
(dpa / afp / at)
